HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Child Care

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1082W, on child care, how many staff, and at what grades, took advantage of the child care voucher scheme; and what the total annual cost is of the scheme.

Nick Harvey: Currently 116 House of Commons staff claim child care vouchers. The scheme records do not include details of the pay bands of the staff concerned. The cost of the scheme for the last full year (2005-06) was £215,000.

House Staff

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1983W, on senior staff, what consideration has been given to  (a) positive action and  (b) positive discrimination to improve the diversity of House staff, especially at senior levels.

Nick Harvey: The House administration is taking several actions which are working towards the goals of improving ethnic-minority representation at senior levels and helping staff from all backgrounds to realise their full career potential. A corporate Senior Management Development Programme was introduced in 2005 to prepare managers for more senior positions. The first cohort of the programme has a number of ethnic minority staff participants. The Diversity Forum has as part of its action plan for 2006-07 the aim that talented staff from under-represented groups should actively be encouraged to develop their careers. A proposal will go to the House's Human Resources Group in 2007. On external recruitment, the House's job advertising policy requires that ethnicity of readership should be a priority in the placing of an advertisement. For fast-stream recruitment the House participates in the Cabinet Office's policy of targeting minorities, and specifically the House is involved in a fast-stream summer development programme which includes an open day aimed at ethnic minority applicants. The next open day is on 18 July.

Staff Travel Allowances

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1083W, on staff travel allowances, what the total cost was of the late night transport service in relation to late sittings for  (a) senior House staff and  (b) in total in each of the last three years.

Nick Harvey: The total cost of providing a late night transport service in each of the last three years has been:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Cost 
			 2003-04 215.7 
			 2004-05 279.6 
			 2005-06 287.8 
		
	
	Costs attributable to senior House staff are not separately identifiable, for the reasons set out in my earlier answer.

WALES

Environmental Management

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department  (a) is committed to the achievement of environmental management to ISO 14001 standard and  (b) has been externally certified as in compliance with that standard; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA). The office adopts its own internal controls and monitoring to track energy and water consumption. At a strategic level, we are included within the DCA strategy, which includes a commitment achieving EMSs to ISO 14001 standard for the DCA as a whole.

Parliamentary Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department were awaiting a reply on 10 July 2006; which of those had been waiting longer than  (a) two and  (b) three weeks for a reply; and what the reason for the delay was in each case.

Peter Hain: Four Ordinary Written questions were outstanding as of 10 July 2006  (a) None  (b) None.

Statutory Instruments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what occasions a statutory instrument sponsored by his Department has been reported by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments as defective since October 2005.

Peter Hain: None.

Sustainable Development

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the relevance to sustainable energy in Wales of the latest report of the Sustainable Development Commission, From "Pioneer to Delivery".

Peter Hain: The Sustainable Development Commission report "From Pioneer to Delivery" makes a number of recommendations relating to the Welsh Assembly Government's policies on sustainable development.
	I discuss these matters regularly with the First Minister and share his commitment to the goal of sustainable development.
	To that end, the Government of Wales Bill, currently before Parliament, provides for a statutory duty for the Welsh Ministers to produce a sustainable development scheme and provides the Welsh Ministers with additional powers to discharge their duties in relation to sustainable development.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Access to Work Scheme

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many disabled staff in her Department received support through the Access to Work scheme  (a) in each of the last five years and  (b) in 2006-07.

Angela Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) was established on 5 May 2006. Staff now working in the Department were formerly employed in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Home Office.
	 (a) In 2005-06 support was provided through Access to Work for 11 disabled members of staff in ODPM. In 2004-05 such support was provided for seven staff, and in 2003-04 for four staff. Comparable figures do not exist for cases supported in ODPM before 2003-04, as during this period this service was provided for disabled staff in ODPM through a shared service based in the Department for Transport.
	Figures for staff now in DCLG who used to be employed in DTI and the Home Office would be included in responses from those Departments, where relevant.
	 (b) In the first three months of 2006-07, support has been provided through Access to Work for five disabled members of staff in the former ODPM who are now employed in DCLG. DCLG has not yet handled any relevant cases for staff who used to be employed in the Home Office or DTI.
	The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) will be monitoring the overall situation to ensure that there is no detriment to current and future employees who are disabled.

Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department first notified Castle Point borough council of the decision to allow Canvey Island to establish its own town council.

Angela Smith: Castle Point borough council was notified of the decision to accept, in principle, the petition to create a parish and parish council for Canvey Island on 21 June 2006.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2006,  Official Report, column 416W, on correspondence, what estimate she has made of the cost of answering the question; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: It is not possible to separately identify the average cost of officials' time in replying to letters from hon. Members and members of the public. Such correspondence is often of a varied and complex nature. Therefore any exercise to determine the average cost in officials' time in responding to letters would incur disproportionate cost.
	It is not possible to separately identify stationery and postage costs for the Department when replying to correspondence from hon. Members and members of the public.

Council Tax

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the change in the level of council tax between 1997 and 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The average band D council tax has risen from £688 in 1997-98 to £1,268 in 2006-07. This is an increase of 84 per cent. in actual terms or 40 per cent. in real terms.

Departmental Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on telephone calls in the private office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2004-05.

Angela Smith: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on helicopter hire for the Deputy Prime Minister in 2004-05.

Angela Smith: Nothing.

Deposited Papers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the deposited papers placed in the Library by her Department since 2000; and when each was published.

Angela Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government was formed on 5 May 2006. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A Deposited Papers List is published by the House on the Parliament website at www.deposits.parliament.uk.

Empty Dwellings

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether empty ministerial residences owned by  (a) the public sector and  (b) a private trust may be subject to an Empty Dwelling Management Order.

Angela Smith: Empty Dwelling Management Orders cannot be made against dwellings owned by the Crown or public-sector bodies such as local housing authorities, registered social landlords and police, fire and health authorities.
	A dwelling owned by a private trust or any property owner could only be subject to an Empty Dwelling Management Order if the local authority proposing the order sought and received authorisation from a Residential Property Tribunal. In deciding whether to grant such authorisation, the Tribunal must be satisfied that the dwelling had been wholly unoccupied for more than six months, that it did not come within any of the exceptions set out in the 'Housing (Empty Dwelling Management Orders) (Prescribed Exceptions and Requirements) (England) Order 2006', that there was no reasonable prospect that it would become occupied in the near future and that, if an interim order was made, the local authority would be able to get the dwelling occupied.
	The Tribunal must also be satisfied prior to granting such authorisation that the local authority had made reasonable efforts to ascertain what steps the owner had taken or intended to take to secure occupation of the dwelling, and that the local authority had complied with all of the requirements of the Act and the secondary legislation. It and must take into account the interests of the community and the effect the order would have on the rights of the property owner.

Equality and Diversity

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government are taking to promote equality and diversity within local authorities; and what targets it has set in relation to this.

Phil Woolas: The Government encourage the promotion of equality and diversity within local authorities in a number of ways, as follows:
	There is a Duty to promote race, disability and gender equality.
	The Government have introduced the Beacon Scheme for local authorities and their partners.
	Government have worked and continue to work with the Improvement and Development Agency and the Regional Centres of Excellence on the improvement programme for local government, including programmes to support embedding equality and diversity.
	 Best Value Performance Indicators
	 Examples include:
	The level of performance in respect of the authorities' delivery on the Race Equality Duty
	Percentage of top-paid 5 per cent. of local authority staff who are women.
	The percentage of the top 5 per cent. of local authority staff who are from an ethnic minority.
	Percentage of the top paid 5 per cent. of staff who have a disability.
	The percentage of local authority employees with a disability.
	The percentage of the economically active population in the local authority area who have a disability.
	The percentage of local authority employees from ethnic minority communities.
	The percentage of the economically active (persons aged 18 to 65) population from ethnic minority communities in the local authority area.
	The percentage of authority buildings open to the public in which all public areas are suitable for, and accessible to, disabled people.
	Percentage of proposed statements of Special Educational Need issued by the authority in a financial year and prepared within 18 weeks.
	Older people helped to live at home per 1,000 population aged 65 or over.
	Satisfaction of ethnic minority council housing tenants (excluding white minority) with their opportunities for participation in management and decision-making in relation to housing services provided by their landlord.
	Whether the authority follows the Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice in Rented Housing and the Good Practice Standards for Social Landlords on Tackling Harassment included in 'Tackling Racial Harassment: Code of Practice for Social Landlords'.
	The percentage of pedestrian crossings with facilities for disabled people, as a proportion of all crossings in the local authority area.
	The number of racial incidents reported to the local authority, and subsequently recorded, per 100,000 population.
	The percentage of racial incidents reported to the local authority that resulted in further action.

Fires

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many deliberate  (a) vehicle fires and  (b) fires there were in (i) Ribble Valley and (ii) Lancashire in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The available information covers part (ii) of the question, deliberate primary fires attended in Lancashire. Information on Ribble Valley constituency is not available centrally.
	
		
			   Deliberate road vehicle fires attended by Lancashire FRS  Deliberate fires attended by Lancashire FRS 
			 1995 827 2,128 
			 1996 885 2,018 
			 1997 821 1,968 
			 1998 918 2,117 
			 1999 1,229 2,532 
			 2000 1,169 2,532 
			 2001 1,366 2,834 
			 2002 (1)1,440 (1)2,704 
			 2003 (1)1,290 (1)2,807 
			 2004 1,043 2,285 
			 (1) Figures for 2002 and 2003 include estimates for incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action.  Note: Figures are based on sampled data grossed to fire and rescue service totals.  Source: Fire and Rescue service returns to DCLG

Fires

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many large outbreaks of fire there were in  (a) Ribble Valley and  (b) Lancashire in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The available information covers part  (b) of the question. Information on Ribble Valley constituency is not available centrally.
	
		
			  Fires involving five or more pumps attended by Lancashire FRS 
			 1995 20 
			 1996 28 
			 1997 35 
			 1998 53 
			 1999 78 
			 2000 43 
			 2001 43 
			 2002 (1)33 
			 2003 (1)46 
			 2004 51 
			 (1 )Figures exclude any fires in November 2002 and January-February 2003 strike periods   Notes:  Figures are based on sampled data grossed to fire and rescue service totals.   Source:  Fire and Rescue Service returns to DCLG

Fires

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many malicious false fire alarm calls were attended by the fire and rescue service in  (a) Ribble Valley and  (b) Lancashire in each year since 1995.

Angela Smith: The available information covers part  (b) of the question. Information on Ribble Valley constituency is not available centrally.
	
		
			  Malicious false fire alarms attended by Lancashire FRS 
			 1995 2,065 
			 1996 1,909 
			 1997 1,709 
			 1998 1,408 
			 1999 1,316 
			 2000 1,443 
			 2001 1,480 
			 2002 (1)1,463 
			 2003 (1)1,338 
			 2004 1,205 
			 (1) Figures for 2002 and 2003 include estimates for incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action.   Source:  Fire and Rescue Service returns to DCLG

IT

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh of 15 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1369W, on IT, what the purpose is of each IT project sourced externally since May 2002 by her Department and its predecessor.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to the answers provided to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 19 January 2005,  Official Report, columns 998-99W, and to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) on 19 January 2005,  Official Report, columns 1420-421W. One additional project has been completed since the last answer:
	
		
			  System  Purpose 
			 Data and statistics catalogue (it will be launched under the short name of StatSearch) The catalogue comprises an interface and repository for information (metadata) about data and statistics resources. Its primary benefit is as a discovery tool, allowing users to find and assess sources by searching or browsing.

New Houses

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what building regulations are in place to ensure that new houses built in  (a) Milton Keynes and  (b) England use environmental protection and conservation techniques.

Angela Smith: There are no building regulations applying specifically in Milton Keynes. The Building Regulations 2000, as amended, apply throughout England and Wales and include requirements for the conservation of fuel and power (which address energy efficiency and hence the emissions of carbon dioxide from buildings) and the avoidance of oil pollution from domestic fuel tanks. We announced in March that consultations would be conducted later this year on new regulations for water efficiency.

Overcrowded Accommodation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households are listed as overcrowded in  (a) Gloucestershire and  (b) Stroud; and how many children are in overcrowded accommodation.

Yvette Cooper: There are two measures of overcrowding—the statutory definition and the bedroom standard.
	Using the bedroom standard, the only recent estimate of the number of overcrowded households in Gloucestershire is 3,000. This is from an ad hoc report based on combined data from both the Survey of English Housing and the Department for Work and Pension's Family Resources Survey for the three years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03.
	Reliable estimates for the number of children living in overcrowded accommodation in Gloucestershire are not available. Separate data for Stroud are also not available.
	Estimates based on the statutory standard are not available because the underlying data are not collected systematically. A one-off estimate was made in the autumn of 2001 that there were approximately 25,000 households across the whole of England that were in conditions of overcrowding that breached the statutory standard. This estimate was based on data from the Survey of English Housing for the period 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and from the 1996 "English House Condition Survey". Equivalent estimates for Gloucestershire are not available.
	Tomorrow we will be publishing a discussion document entitled on "Tackling Overcrowding in England" which sets out options for revising the outdated definition of overcrowding and developing long-term solutions.

Renewable Energy

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will ask the Government Office for the West Midlands to explain the reasons for the delay in publishing  (a) the report on wind energy development in the West Midlands from TNEI Services Ltd commissioned jointly with Advantage West Midlands in 2004 and  (b) the appendix to this report.

Angela Smith: The final report was completed in June 2004 and owing to its specialist nature it was considered the demand would be insufficient to warrant publication of a glossy hard copy. Electronic copies were made available on request following the publication of the regional energy strategy in November 2004, which was informed by the study and made specific reference to it. Delays in commissioning the GOWM website resulted in a delay until February this year, when the Environment and Rural pages on the site were redesigned, and a link was placed on the new site to improve public access to the report.
	The appendices attached to the final report covering details of wind farm financial models and background to the consultants were made available at the same time as the main report.

DEFENCE

Advertising Campaigns

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Armed Forces advertising campaigns have featured female models in each of the last 10 years.

Tom Watson: None, apart from the one recent occasion when Nell McAndrew was featured to help promote the Confidential Support Line.

Afghanistan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the number of  (a) fixed wing aircraft,  (b) Apache helicopters and  (c) infantry troops in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 1131-135, to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell).

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1100W, on Afghanistan, if he will place in the Library a copy of the medical planning guidelines.

Adam Ingram: The medical planning guidelines are being withheld on grounds of operational security. To reveal details of the specific policies underpinning UK operations in Afghanistan or elsewhere would be detrimental to the safety of UK forces.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he has taken  (a) to assess the influence and  (b) to promote the constructive engagement of (i) Iran and (ii) Pakistan in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: We keep the situation in Afghanistan and the influence of neighbouring countries constantly under review. Pakistan, in particular, remains influential in Afghanistan, notably among the Pashtun communities of the south. Her Majesty's Government maintain frequent contact with the Government of Pakistan on strategic issues, including the need to counter the influence of the Taliban and the drug-trafficking warlords. In addition, British forces deployed to Afghanistan have military liaison with the Pakistani Army.
	The United Kingdom and Iran also have a common interest in supporting Afghan efforts to promote stability and economic development and to combat the drugs trade. Iran has said it supports the long-term reconstruction of Afghanistan and the efforts of the Afghan Government and international community to build stability and security. We welcome this commitment and hope to see it demonstrated in practice. Her Majesty's Government have discussed these issues regularly with the Iranian authorities, through the British embassy in Tehran and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the theatres in which helicopters without fuel tank protection are not deployed; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will take steps to fit fuel tank protection to all helicopters.

Adam Ingram: Helicopters are fitted with protection, including for their fuel tanks, according to the operational threats they are likely to face and the characteristics of the aircraft themselves. The level of threat, and any action that needs to be taken, are kept under review.

Defence Purchasing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he operates a European buying policy in any areas of defence purchasing; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not operate a "buy European" policy. In an open competition, any company (European, American or otherwise) can bid for a MOD contract. Contractors are chosen on the basis of best value for money for the UK taxpayer, not the nationality of the bidder.

Defensive Aids Suites

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 704W, on defensive aids suites, what defensive aids suites were carried by UK Hercules aircraft in Afghanistan in 2002.

Adam Ingram: The following defensive aids, in a variety of combinations, were employed on Hercules aircraft in Afghanistan in 2002:
	Missile Approach Warning System
	Radar Warning Receiver
	Countermeasures Dispensing System
	Infra Red Counter Measure

Helicopters

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has carried out an evaluation of deploying  (a) the Huger 500 and  (b) other light utility helicopters as convoy or patrol escorts in Iraq; and what assessment he has made of the merits of the use of machines of this type in such a manner to enhance force protection for British troops in convoy or patrol in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have Lynx light utility helicopters which can be used for escort duties if commanders judge that appropriate. The threat to our troops deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is kept under constant review and our force posture, including the use of helicopters in force protection roles, is adjusted accordingly.

Injured British Servicemen (Treatment)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many armed forces personnel in  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Air Force and  (c) the Royal Navy were medically discharged from the armed services in Iraq owing to (i) an accident, (ii) limb amputation and (iii) psychological problems in each year since March 2003; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many armed forces personnel in  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Air Force and  (c) the Royal Navy have been medically discharged from the armed services in Afghanistan owing to (i) an accident, (ii) limb amputation and (iii) psychological problems in each year since October 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Details of armed forces personnel who have been discharged as a result of a condition that can be attributed specifically to service in Iraq or Afghanistan could be obtained only by a search of the individual medical records of all personnel discharged from the armed forces since October 2001, which could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	In recent years, some 1,500 to 1,700 people have been medically discharged annually from the armed forces for any reason. Even when it is not possible to return an individual to full operational fitness following an injury or illness, it will often be possible to retain them in service in a different role, and it is our policy to do this whenever practical.

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the British armed forces are serving on Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: As the then Secretary of State for Defence set out on 13 March, the total number of UK armed forces personnel serving in Iraq since the last transfer of authority took place on 30 April is now in the region of 7,200. Currently up to 2,800 further service personnel are stationed outside Iraq in support of Operation Telic.

Military Vehicles

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (Humvees) are  (a) owned and  (b) leased by the Department; and whether any such vehicles have been acquired under the Stormer Programme.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not own or lease any high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (Humvees) and there are currently no plans for their procurement.

Military Vehicles

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 29 June 2006,  Official Report, column 15WS, on the support vehicle programme, for what reasons MAN ERF UK Ltd was selected as the provider of support vehicles; what process was followed to select the provider; and which other companies bid for the contract.

Adam Ingram: MAN ERF UK Ltd was selected to supply the extra 2,077 support vehicles through an option in the existing support vehicle contract. This contract was let on a competitive basis and four companies submitted bids: MAN ERF UK Ltd, Mercedes-Benz UK Defence, the Oshkosh Truck Corporation and Stewart and Stevenson TVS UK. Following a detailed assessment it was concluded that MAN ERF UK Ltd offered the best value for money and it was selected as preferred bidder in October 2004. A detailed negotiation phase was then undertaken before MAN ERF UK Ltd was awarded the contract on 31 March 2005.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) range and  (b) circular area probability are of the (i) Trident missile system, (ii) Polaris Chevaline missile system and (iii) Polaris missile system.

Des Browne: The range of the Trident D5 missile is some 6,000 nautical miles. Both Polaris Chevaline and Polaris missiles have a range of up to 2,500 nautical miles.
	I am withholding the information on circular error probable, which indicates the accuracy of the missile, as this could enable deductions to be made that could be prejudicial to national security and international relations.

Pre-CSR Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with  (a) the Treasury and  (b) the Cabinet Office regarding the pre-comprehensive spending review report; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: I have and will continue to have wide ranging and regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury about preparations for the 2007 comprehensive spending review, as a matter of key importance to the Ministry of Defence's medium and long-term planning.

Press Releases

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the releases issued to the media by his Department between 17 July 2003 and 20 July 2003; and at what  (a) time and  (b) date each was (i) drafted, (ii) cleared for release and (iii) released under embargo to the media.

Des Browne: holding answer 10 July 2006
	On 19 July 2003, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon) the then Secretary of State for Defence, released a statement to the media, which explained that the Government had invited Lord Hutton urgently to conduct an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Kelly. According to our records, this statement was released to the media at 3.20 pm on 19 July 2003.
	On 21 July 2003, Lord Hutton issued his own statement to the media through the Department for Constitutional Affairs, which confirmed his appointment and set out his Terms of Reference.
	The Ministry of Defence does not hold records of precisely when statements to the media are drafted or cleared for release to the media. It is normal practice that press notices are issued to the media shortly after clearance for release is given.
	Two other press releases were issued by the Ministry of Defence between 17 July 2003 and 20 July 2003. The way ahead for Multi Role Armoured Vehicles and Future Command and Liaison Vehicles was released to the media at 12.48 pm on 17 July 2003. The launch of the UK Missile Defence Centre was released to the media at 4.42 pm on 18 July 2003.

School Fees

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel on overseas service have experienced delays in the payment of school fees made in respect of members of their families in each of the last five years; and what steps are taken to minimise such delays.

Tom Watson: There have been 14 late Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) (formerly Boarding School Allowance) payments out of 115,000 applications over the last five years. Broken down by year, the CEA late payments are in the following table.
	
		
			   Royal navy  Army 
			 2001-02 0 0 
			 2002-03 0 0 
			 2003-04 4 0 
			 2004-05 2 2 
			 2005-06 6 0 
		
	
	It is not known which, if any, of these 14 late payments were in respect of personnel serving overseas. Details of how many of the affected service personnel were overseas are not held centrally and even if the source documents still existed, the breakdown could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All three services issue reminders each term of when the deadline is for submitting applications and unit administrative staff also have a responsibility to remind likely applicants personally of the cut-off dates.

Spectrum Utilisation

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what receipts his Department received for spectrum released for civil use in financial years 1997-98 to 2005-06; and what proportion was appropriated in aid.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence received no direct receipts for spectrum released for civil use in financial years 1997-98 to 2005-06. Where the Department has released spectrum for civil use, Ofcom does not levy a fee to the Department for this released spectrum.

Spectrum Utilisation

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the information that his Department has released to Ofcom about its prospective spectrum utilisation.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence provided information to Ofcom about its prospective spectrum utilisation in spectrum bands between 137MHz and 17.7GHz in support of the independent audit of public sector spectrum holdings undertaken by Professor Martin Cave for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A redacted version of the information is publicly available in the independent audit of Spectrum Holdings (December 2005)—Annex B refers. The report, published by HSMO, can also be accessed on the internet at: www.spectrumaudit.org.uk.

Trident

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies are being carried out into whether to reuse or replace the Trident warhead pit; and when a decision on pit reuse or replacement is likely to be made.

Des Browne: The Atomic Weapons Establishment undertakes a range of studies as part of a warhead assurance programme designed to ensure the safety, effectiveness and durability of the UK nuclear warhead stockpile. This process is designed to enable regular assessments of the service life of any particular pit, and ensure that essential capability continues to be maintained at all times.
	There is currently no requirement for any replacement warhead; nor is there any programme to develop one.

Trident

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has allocated for US contract N00178-04-D-4042 to EG and G, a Trident software support contract for K Development at the Naval Surface Warfare Centre Dahlgren, for the development and testing of  (a) UK targeting,  (b) reference and simulation models and  (c) verifying the removal of US-eyes only items from Trident targeting and fire control software.

Des Browne: The Ministry of Defence does not allocate funding for individual US Government contracts. Arrangements for support of the UK Fire Control Software and related matters are agreed between the US and UK Governments under the Polaris Sales Agreement (as amended for Trident).

Trident

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 35W, on Trident, whether he makes a distinction between designing and developing in the context of work on a new warhead for use in Trident missiles.

Des Browne: We do not draw a distinction between "designing" and "developing" in the context of nuclear warheads. As we said in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (supporting essay 5 paragraph 14), we maintain a minimum capability at the Atomic Weapons Establishment to design and produce a replacement for the current Trident warhead, should that prove necessary.
	There is no programme at the Atomic Weapons Establishment to either develop or design a new nuclear warhead as we currently have no requirement for a new warhead.

Troop Numbers

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the  (a) actual and  (b) establishment figures are for each regiment of the (i) Royal Household Cavalry, (ii) Royal Armoured Corps and (iii) Royal Artillery;
	(2)  what the  (a) actual and  (b) establishment figures are for each (i) regiment and (ii) battalion of the  (A) Royal Engineers,  (B) Royal Corps of Signals,  (C) Royal Logistics Corps,  (D) Royal Army Medical Corps and  (E) Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Adam Ingram: Strengths and establishment figures for these Arm/Services, broken down by regiment/battalion, are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I am able to provide the strengths and liability for these Arm/Services as at 1 May 2006:
	
		
			  Full-time trained strength as at 1 May 2006 and liability 
			  Full-time trained strength (including full-time reserve service (FTRS( 1) )  Liability( 2)  Strength( 3)  Strength as percentage of liability 
			  Arm/Service
			 The Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps 5,760 5,510 96 
			 Royal Regiment of Artillery 7,510 7,300 97 
			 Royal Corps of Engineers 9,180 8,790 96 
			 Royal Corps of Signals 8,500 8,520 100 
			 The Royal Logistics Corps 15,720 15,710 100 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps 3,180 2,860 90 
			 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 9,700 9,760 101 
			 (1) FTRS figures include full, limited and home commitment. (2) Based on Regular Army Liability (RAL 06). This liability is the Army target strength to be achieved by 1 April 2008, following the commencement of Northern Ireland Normalisation (NIN) and the implementation of the Future Army Structure (FAS). (3 )As at 1 May 06  Notes: 1. Figures exclude Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, mobilised reserves, Territorial Army and other reserves. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Uniforms

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the procedure is for replacement of ill-fitting uniforms for members of the Armed Forces.

Adam Ingram: Uniforms are generally issued through the unit Quartermaster stores. Any ill-fitting pieces of uniform can be exchanged there and then for a better fit. In cases where the individual falls outside of the standard size range, they receive made to measure uniforms. Exceptionally, where an item of uniform is found to have been badly made, the Defence Clothing Integrated Project Team (DCIPT) examines the specification, identifies the problem and ensures that corrective action is taken.

Veterans

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans living in the Leicester South constituency have  (a) applied for and  (b) received their veterans lapel badge.

Tom Watson: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Accenture

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department paid to the company Accenture in each year since 2002; and what sums his Department owes the company.

Ian Pearson: From information held centrally the Department has paid Accenture the following sums since 2002:
	
		
			  Financial year  Amount (£ million) 
			 2002-03 3.1 
			 2003-04 14.625 
			 2004-05 10.725 
			 2005-06 22.299 
		
	
	As at 16 June 2006, the sum of £2,301,976 had not been paid to Accenture and this figure represented invoices received since 5 June 2006 which were in the process of being released for payment within the Department's agreed payment terms window.

Advertising Campaigns

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advertising campaigns his Department has run since July 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

Ian Pearson: For the Department's overall advertising expenditure for 2004-05 and 2005-06, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1818W.
	The principal advertising campaigns run by DEFRA since July 2004 are in the following table.
	
		
			  Campaign  Objective  Timing  Media spend (£) 
			 Personal food imports To raise awareness of food restrictions of food imports from outside the EU into the UK's animal disease prevention plans December 2004-March 2005 92,343 
			   December 2005-March 2006 94,278 
			 
			 Avian flu/poultry register To raise awareness of the biosecurity measures poultry keepers should follow in light of the international avian flu outbreaks. To encourage poultry keepers with more than 50 birds to sign up to the Poultry Register as part of the GB's avian flu contingency plans. October 2005-March 2006 185,976 
		
	
	The Department also undertakes a wide range of recruitment, statutory notice and one-off advertising activities which accounts for the balance in spending. Information on advertising campaigns by non-departmental public bodies, executive agencies, independent statutory bodies and other DEFRA-funded bodies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Agricultural Support

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total budget is in 2006-07 for agricultural support in England; and what the administrative cost is of distributing it.

Ian Pearson: The amount forecast for agricultural support in England in 2006-07 is approximately £1.6 billion. This will be administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), whose administrative costs are budgeted at £197.1 million in 2006-07.

Air Conditioning

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department collects on the number of homes in the United Kingdom which have domestic air conditioning installed.

Ian Pearson: No detailed information is available about the number of air conditioning units in domestic homes or their associated energy consumption.
	However, the Government's Market Transformation Programme (MTP) has collected estimates of the amount of energy consumed by air conditioning units in the UK that are subject to the Energy Information (Household Air Conditioners) No.2 Regulations 2005 (that is, units which consume less than 12 kilowatts). The 2005 Regulatory Impact Assessment for those regulations indicates that these appliances, which are used in both domestic and commercial premises, consume about 5.6 terawatt hours of electricity per year. This is equivalent to approximately 672,000 tonnes of carbon. The report is available on the DEFRA website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/energylabelling-regsaircon/index.htm
	No information is collected for indirect greenhouse gas emissions from these appliances.

Badgers

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether badger body snares had been used by the Central Science Laboratory for  (a) ecological and  (b) other research work before 2006.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 89W.
	Given the real security concerns associated with work of this nature, it is our policy not to comment on any involvement or otherwise of agencies or contractors in relation this topic.

Badgers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many badgers there are, broken down by region.

Ben Bradshaw: Surveys of badger populations in Great Britain were undertaken in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. In the mid-1980s the badger population was estimated to be 250,000 and in the mid-1990s a survey estimated that the population had increased by 77 per cent.
	DEFRA is not aware of any other national surveys which have attempted to estimate badger numbers in England and Wales. We do not have regional breakdowns of these figures.

Bovine TB

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle slaughtered under the TB eradication scheme in each of the last three years were subsequently found on post mortem not to be infected and their carcasses sold into the food chain; and what the financial proceeds were of those sales in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 4 July 2006
	The number of cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis control measures, and their confirmation status, is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Total number of cattle slaughtered under TB control measures in GB( 1)  Number of confirmed reactors  Number of unconfirmed cases 
			 2005 30,063 8,657 21,406 
			 2004 23,064 6,422 16,642 
			 2003 23,821 6,308 17,513 
			 (1) Reactors, inconclusive reactors and direct contacts. 
		
	
	Failure to confirm the disease by post-mortem examination at the slaughterhouse, or by culturing  Mycobacterium bovis in the laboratory, does not mean that the disease was not present in the animal, or that the animal had not been in contact with bovine TB. In the early stages of the disease, it is not always possible to see lesions with the naked eye, and, owing to the fastidious nature of the organism, it is not possible to culture from samples in every case.
	Carcasses and their associated offal are inspected by the Meat Hygiene Service at slaughter and those with signs of generalised infection are fully condemned and declared unfit for human consumption. When localised TB lesions are found in more than one organ or area of a carcass the whole carcass is condemned. Those carcasses with lesions in a single organ or part of the carcass and associated lymph nodes are only passed fit for human consumption once the affected part of the carcass has been cut out and condemned. If no TB lesions are found, the carcass is passed fit for human consumption. If any  M. bovis organisms remain these will be killed by thorough cooking of the meat.
	Figures for financial proceeds are not available for unconfirmed cattle. However, figures for the financial proceeds from all cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis control measures are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial proceeds from all cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis control measures 
			   £ million 
			 2005 4.4 
			 2004 2.7 
			 2003 3.6

Bovine TB

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether an assessment was made of the merits of using weight charts rather than an estimate by the Department or an auctioneer when the system by which farmers are compensated for a cow with bovine TB was changed.

Ben Bradshaw: The current arrangements were only introduced after two full, public consultations and, wherever possible, DEFRA reacted to the detailed concerns raised by stakeholders.
	Various options were considered before a system based on table valuations was developed, but weight charts were not suggested at any time during the consultation process.
	Basing the level of compensation on an animal's weight would not be practical. For example, such a system would work against those farmers with young pedigree stock.
	We are working with stakeholders through the Cattle Compensation Advisory Group, which was set up to monitor the introduction of the new system, to consider whether (and what) system enhancements might be needed.

Bovine TB

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many outbreaks of bovine TB in cattle there were in 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: There were 1,562 new herd TB incidents between January and May 2006(1). This indicates a real and substantial reduction in the number of new incidents when compared to the same period in 2005 (1,959).
	Given the cyclical nature of the disease, it is too early to draw any conclusions about whether the decrease is a temporary or a more sustained reduction. However, we consider the decrease to be an important and welcome development, and we are working hard to determine its cause. It is likely to be the result of a complex combination of factors, which may take some time to analyse.
	(1) Data from DEFRA's Animal Health Database (Vetnet). Provisional statistics, subject to change as more data becomes available.

Chemicals Regulations

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations will operate effectively alongside the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations; and if he will undertake an assessment of the risks of REACH undermining COSHH.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 10 July 2006
	DEFRA is involved in ongoing discussions on the implementation of the new Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations with the agencies involved in the regulation of chemicals, and with the devolved administrations. The Health and Safety Executive, which acts as the competent authority for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), has been fully involved throughout this process.

Common Agricultural Policy

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the cost per person per week of the common agricultural policy in the United Kingdom.

Ian Pearson: The common agricultural policy (CAP) generates costs to both consumers and taxpayers. Consumers' costs arise because of the higher prices that prevail under the CAP. Taxpayers fund both direct subsidies to producers and the cost of operating the market management instruments of the CAP. However, the UK does not contribute to individual EU budget categories; it contributes to the entire EU budget. Therefore, in order to provide an indication of the cost to UK taxpayers we have calculated a notional UK contribution to expenditure on the CAP.
	Our provisional estimate of the consumer and taxpayer cost of the CAP person per week in the UK, in 2004, is approximately £2.50.

Environmental Regulation

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much and what proportion of the Department's budget was spent directly on environmental regulation in each year since 2000-01, broken down by region.

Ian Pearson: The Department does not maintain a separate record of expenditure on environmental regulation, which is included in the overall administration costs. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Flags

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  on how many days since May 1997 the St. George's flag has been flown from his Department's buildings;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on flying the  (a) St. George's flag and  (b) EU flag from departmental buildings.

Ian Pearson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport issues the guidance for flying flags on Government buildings. This includes flying the St. George's flag on St. George's day, 23 April, and the European flag on Europe day, 9 May, on buildings with two or more flag poles provided they are flown alongside the Union flag with the Union flag in the superior position.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs only has one flag pole, and therefore does not fly the St. George's flag or the European flag. On that basis, the St. George's flag has not knowingly been flown from any buildings on the DEFRA estate.

Flags

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will ensure the Union flag is flown from his Department's buildings on every day the offices are open.

Ian Pearson: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs follows the rules and guidance on flag flying issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. These rules are approved by the Queen on advice from the Department. There are no plans at present to change the number of days on which flags can be flown from Government buildings.

Outsourcing

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what administrative functions for which his Department is responsible are outsourced overseas; and what assessment he has made of the merits of outsourcing further such functions overseas.

Ian Pearson: According to information held centrally, no administrative functions for which the Department is responsible have been outsourced overseas. Sourcing decisions are made on the basis of value for money. Any decisions to outsource functions overseas would be taken in the light of that policy and would recognise the Department's emergency preparedness and business continuity requirements.

Post Office Contracts

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for which services  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies hold contracts with the Post Office; and what the (i) start and (ii) termination date is of each contract.

Ian Pearson: According to information held centrally, the Department has no contracts with the Post Office.

Poultry Farmers

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what special EU support is offered to poultry farmers; and what assessment he has made of the impact of such support on the poultry industry in the UK.

Ian Pearson: Recent amendments to EU Council Regulations 2777/75 and 27771/75 provide legal powers to make special support measures available to member states in the event of a significant decline in consumer confidence in poultry products, as a direct result of avian influenza, causing the market to collapse.
	It is a long established Government policy that accommodating market fluctuations is something for the industry to manage. It is principally for this reason that we do not propose to exercise the EC provision to provide these exceptional market support measures.

Private Sewers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he last reviewed the legislation on private sewers; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government are very aware of the problem of private sewers, whereby householders often do not know they have a private sewer until a problem occurs such as a blockage or collapse, which can lead to disputes and consumer resistance to paying for repairs. Local authorities have also traditionally lacked any kind of records of where such sewers are, and the condition that they are in.
	Legislation concerning private sewers has been kept under review by the Government since 2001 when a protocol was proposed for the construction of new sewers, enabling them to be built to a standard suitable for adoption by water and sewerage companies. The Government published their "Review of existing private sewers and drains in England and Wales" in July 2003, which sought views on a number of possible solutions to the problem of maintenance of such sewers including their adoption by water and sewerage companies. This report is available on the DEFRA website:
	http://defraweb/corporate/consult/sewers/conpap.pdf
	In January 2005, DEFRA held a stakeholder seminar—"Review of Existing Private Sewers in England and Wales: What Next?"—which explored and drew conclusions on sustainable options for the scope and form of any potential transfer of private sewers to water and sewerage companies. There was general consensus at the seminar that transfer provided the most comprehensive solution.
	DEFRA has worked hard with stakeholders, including Ofwat, Water UK and the Consumer Council for Water, to examine the scope and form of any potential transfer to water and sewerage companies. This has included its costs and funding, the impact on the drain repair and insurance industries, and public expectation. We intend to publish a decision on existing private sewers in England and Wales in the autumn.

Rural Payments Agency

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to resolve the applications from applicants for the Entry Level Scheme where applications have been delayed because of disputes over Rural Payments Agency mapping and where payments have consequently been lost for one year; and if he will pay compensation to those affected.

Ian Pearson: The Rural Development Service (RDS) have implemented a variety of measures to facilitate the earliest possible entry into the Environmental Stewardship (ES) Scheme.
	Under the Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) strand of ES in particular, the following steps have been taken:
	Monthly, rather than quarterly start dates were implemented in the summer of 2005;
	Shortly after the launch of the scheme, a prioritisation list of ELS applicants with outstanding Rural Land Register (RLR) mapping issues was established. This enabled Rural Payment Agency staff to prioritise cases more effectively;
	In circumstances where applicants were not able to fully register all of their land on the RLR, applicants could consider either:
	applying for an agreement on the land initially registered and then applying for a separate subsequent ELS agreement on the newly registered land; or
	applying for an agreement on the land initially registered and then once land registration for all land was completed, applying for a new, re-started agreement across the whole of the holding.
	It should also be noted that applicants are able to take up a full five-year ELS agreement. Therefore, though payments may be initially delayed for some, the opportunity to participate in an ELS agreement and receive payment for this will not be lost.
	Given the steps outlined, and the voluntary nature of the ES scheme rather than its being a regulatory entitlement, I do not believe that there is a sufficiently robust case for compensation, where a later than anticipated entry into the scheme has been experienced.

Sheep (Electronic Tagging)

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the implementation of mandatory electronic tagging for sheep.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 903W.

Single Farm Payment

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 902W to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch), on the single farm payment, on what date he will publish details of payments made in England up to 30 June 2006.

Ian Pearson: In his statement to the House on 5 July 2006 the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced the details of payments made in England up to 30 June 2006.

Supermarkets (UK Produce)

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the amount of UK food produce sold in supermarkets in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Estimates of the amount of UK food produce sold in supermarkets are not available.

Tallow

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps his Department takes to enforce the Waste Incineration Directive in relation to the burning of tallow; what assessment he has made of enforcement levels; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many breaches of the Waste Incineration Directive there were in relation to the burning of tallow in each of the last 12 months, broken down by local authority.

Ian Pearson: The Waste Incineration Directive (WID) applies to all technical units incinerating waste or co-incinerating waste along with non-waste material. As the law currently stands, the burning of waste tallow as fuel is subject to the requirements of the WID and is regulated by local authorities and the Environment Agency depending on the type of rendering unit.
	Having received representations—including one from the UK Government—that the application of the stringent requirements of the WID is disproportionate in relation to the burning of tallow, the European Commission has set up a study to help establish whether such controls are appropriate and necessary to the protection of the environment. The study is expected to report by the autumn, and the Government are pressing the Commission for the study to be completed as soon as possible.
	Against this background, operators have argued that the continued burning of tallow in rendering plants would be more beneficial for the environment than switching to alternative fossil fuels, which do not require WID-compliant plants. In addition, switching fuels would have damaging cost impacts on the livestock chain.
	Recognising these points and the ongoing Commission study, but also the current state of the law, Ministers have encouraged the industry to enter technical discussions with the regulators to determine how best individual plants might plan move over time to comply with the WID.
	A plant's failure to comply with WID requirements .included in Pollution Prevention Control permits is a matter for the regulator. My Department does not maintain a database of Waste Incineration Directive breaches. Following detection of non-compliance, decisions about enforcement action and/or prosecution are taken in line with the regulator's existing enforcement and prosecution policies. The latter includes consideration of "public interest" in upholding environmental law.

Tallow

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the use of tallow by the soap production and oleochemical industries on levels of recycling in the context of the Government's policies on waste management and sustainable development; and what research he has commissioned on this.

Ian Pearson: Approximately 265,000 tonnes of tallow are produced in the UK annually. Approximately 50-65,000 tonnes (including imported tallow) are used by the soap production and oleochemical industry in the UK per year. No assessment of the effects on levels of recycling from the use of tallow has been made, nor has any research been commissioned.

Tallow

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the incentive scheme for the production of biodiesel in the context of competing uses for tallow; and what discussions he has had with the Department  (a) of Trade and Industry and  (b) for Transport on the impact;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the incentive scheme in place for the use of tallow in the production of biofuels on levels of  (a) recycling and  (b) renewable energy production.

Ian Pearson: The Government are supporting the production of biodiesel through a 20p per litre duty rate cut. This has brought forward biodiesel from a variety of feedstock, including tallow. The forthcoming Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation will require 5 per cent. of road fuel to come from renewable sources by 2010. Tallow-derived biodiesel will qualify under the obligation. Burning tallow for the generation of electricity may also qualify for Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs), although the Government are not aware of any significant burning of tallow which is eligible for ROCs.
	We are aware that the oleochemical industry is concerned that the use of tallow for the production of biodiesel and electricity generation will reduce available supplies of tallow for their industry. No formal assessment of this has been made by the Government. However, Defra is in close contact with the Department for Transport and the Department of Trade and Industry, which are engaged in on-going discussions with the oleochemical industry.

Waste Incineration Directive

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance is issued to regulators of the rendering industry in England and Wales on determining whether a rendering plant is working towards compliance with the European Union Waste Incineration Directive.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 16 June 2006
	The Environment Agency has met the UK Renderers Association on two recent occasions to agree steps to be taken by the sector in moving towards compliance with the waste incineration directive (WID). Those steps include emissions monitoring at two rendering plants. All plants will also investigate the cost and lead times for the supply and installation of suitable continuous emissions monitoring equipment, as well as the engineering feasibility. Relevant local authorities in England and Wales have been made aware of the outcome of the meeting. A third meeting is planned in July.
	Guidance on the regulatory and technical requirements of the WID is provided by my Department and the Welsh Assembly in "Guidance on Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste", available at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/wasteincin/pdf/wid-guidance.pdf.

Water Companies

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has made representations to Thames Water about its water leakage rates.

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings he  (a) has held and  (b) plans to hold with (i) Thames Water and (ii) Ofwat regarding Thames Water's performance against its leakage reduction targets.

Ian Pearson: The Secretary of State and I met with representatives of the water industry, including Thames Water, on 1 June to discuss the water supply challenges we face in the short, medium and long term. Leakage levels was one of the issues discussed. I also met Thames Water seperately in May and made clear that its leakage rates were unacceptably high.
	I have discussed the issues of leakage and enforcement options available to Ofwat with it. However, I must add that Ofwat carries out its functions independently of Ministers.
	On 4 July, Ofwat announced that it had secured a legally binding undertaking, committing Thames Water to £150 million of additional investment in replacing leaking mains. This is more than double the maximum imposable fine and will come from the shareholder, not the bill payer. Ofwat has also set revised leakage targets for the period up to 2010 to get the company's leakage reduction back on track and to take leakage down to 720 rather than 725 megalitres per day by 2009-10. It is right that the consumer does not bear the burden of the increased investment needed for Thames Water to deal with its failure to meet its leakage targets.

Water Companies

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which water companies missed their leakage reduction targets in each year since 2001.

Ian Pearson: Ofwat has recognised that leakage is affected by severe weather conditions and since 2002-03 it has assessed the water companies' achievement of targets on a 36-month rolling average. Following Ofwat's assessment of the companies, 2004-05 leakage performance, United Utilities and Thames Water were deemed to be operating above their 36-month average targets. Thames Water had targets suspended in 2001-02 and 2002-03 owing to its performance and data problems.
	The following water companies missed their single year leakage reduction targets between 2001 and 2005:
	 2001-02
	Anglian Water
	Three Valleys Water
	Northumbrian Water (South)
	 2002-03
	Anglian Water
	Severn Trent Water
	United Utilities
	Three Valleys Water
	 2003-04
	Anglian Water
	Thames Water
	United Utilities
	Mid Kent Water
	Three Valleys Water
	 2004-05
	Thames Water
	United Utilities
	Cambridge Water

Water Companies

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to review the criteria by which Ofwat  (a) reviews and  (b) penalises the performance of water companies.

Ian Pearson: The powers of Ofwat were reviewed as part of the Water Act 2003. There are no proposals for further changes at present.

Water Desalination Plants

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many water desalination plants are  (a) in operation,  (b) under construction and  (c) planned; what the location is of each; and which company is involved in each case.

Ian Pearson: The water companies' proposals for resource developments, including proposed desalination plants, were set out in their 25 year water resources plans, prepared in 2004. The Environment Agency reported on the appropriateness of those plans in 'Maintaining Water Supply', which is available from its website:
	http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/981441/837307/?version=1&lang=_e
	Currently, no water company has a desalination plant in operation. South East Water has been testing a pilot plant at Newhaven, although no water from this pilot project has gone into supply. The company is preparing the documentation to support a planning application for a plant at this site. Thames Water is appealing against the refusal of planning permission for a plant at Beckton in the Thames estuary. The company's water resources plan also identifies provision for a second plant in the 2020s. Folkestone and Dover Water plans a small desalination plant at Hythe in 2019 and Southern Water proposes the development of a desalination plant in the 2020s.

Water Services

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many customers were in receipt of the vulnerable groups tariff for each water company over the last three years for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: Each year, Ofwat collects information from companies on the number of households applying for, and successfully receiving, assistance offered under the vulnerable groups regulations.
	The following table sets out the numbers for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05.
	
		
			   Total number of applications  Total number of successful applications 
			  2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 
			 Anglian and HPL 958 1,293 1,311 993 843 682 
			 Dwr Cymru 121 374 417 78 245 319 
			 United Utilities 1,222 1,439 1,489 946 1,031 1,114 
			 Northumbrian and Essex and Suffolk 376 439 569 316 378 483 
			 Severn Trent 557 771 1 ,072 449 651 916 
			 South West 608 1,446 1,647 601 1,440 1,645 
			 Southern 332 278 262 325 271 258 
			 Thames 798 1,302 1,655 675 1,097 1,323 
			 Wessex 228 178 519 202 294 481 
			 Yorkshire and York 635 829 1,131 594 768 1,059 
			 Bournemouth and West Hampshire 50 69 87 50 69 73 
			 Bristol 97 120 118 93 99 93 
			 Cambridge 52 77 89 51 74 81 
			 Dee Valley 3 5 10 3 5 10 
			 Folkestone 29 32 28 12 11 12 
			 Mid Kent 66 86 171 66 83 138 
			 Portsmouth 15 14 25 14 13 24 
			 South East Water 87 85 105 65 78 91 
			 South Staffs. 63 37 39 32 36 39 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 7 10 38 5 10 38 
			 Tendring Hundred 156 119 103 132 98 87 
			 Three Valleys/North Surrey 213 81 275 157 49 251 
			 Water and Sewerage Companies 5,835 8,349 10,072 5,179 7,018 8,280 
			 Water Only Companies 838 735 1,088 680 625 937 
			
			 Industry 6,673 9,084 11,160 5,859 7,643 9,217

TREASURY

Affordable Housing

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on implementation of the recommendations of the Barker review on affordable housing.

John Healey: Good progress has been made on implementing the recommendations contained in the Barker Review of Housing Supply.
	The Government set out, in the last pre-Budget report, an ambitious agenda to raise the level of house-building to 200,000 new homes a year over the next decade, making housing more affordable.
	So far we have succeeded in driving up housing supply, with new house building in England reaching 160,000 in 2005, the highest level since 1990.
	We have set out major reforms to encourage housing growth including a new Planning Policy Statement for Housing to bring forward more land in response to demand, and a planning gain supplement to help fund infrastructure to support growth.

Economic Growth

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his G8 colleagues regarding prospects for global economic growth.

Edward Balls: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb) on the Floor of the House earlier today.

Stamp Duty

Rob Marris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts he has made of stamp duty receipts from sales of residential property during the periods between 1 June 2006 and 31 December 2006 and 1 June 2007 and 31 December 2007.

Edward Balls: Forecasts of yield are made at Budget time on a fiscal year basis. The forecast is published in table C8 which aggregates stamp duty on property with that on shares.
	A retrospective analysis of yield from residential and commercial stamp duty land tax (stamp duty on property) is published in the autumn.

Stamp Duty

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future of stamp duty on residential property sales.

Edward Balls: All taxes are kept under review and announcements are made in the Budget.

Stamp Duty

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2006,  Official Report, column 95W, on stamp duty 
	(1)  how much was raised in stamp duty from home sales in  (a) the United Kingdom,  (b) London,  (c) Southend and  (d) Wales in 2005-06;
	(2)  how much was raised in stamp duty from home sales in  (a) each local authority area,  (b) the United Kingdom,  (c) London,  (d) Scotland and  (e) Wales in the nearest year to 1997-98 for which figures are available.

Edward Balls: Estimates of stamp duty raised from home sales in 1997-98 in the United Kingdom, London, Scotland and Northern Ireland (combined) and Wales are available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stats/stamp_duty/table15_2_october04.xls
	Final figures for 2005-06 have not yet been published.

G8 Summit

Betty Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the forthcoming G8 meeting in St. Petersburg on 15 to 17 July.

Edward Balls: The Prime Minister will attend the G8 summit in St. Petersburg this weekend. This is the first Russian G8 Presidency and the UK is working with G8 partners for a successful summit. The Presidency's focus is on energy security, infectious diseases and education. These and other current issues will be discussed at the meeting. The Prime Minister will lead two sessions on Africa at the summit, in recognition of continuing G8 focus on Africa.

Unemployment (Shropshire)

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on levels of unemployment in Shropshire between June 2005 and June 2006.

John Healey: The number of people unemployed and claiming benefit in Shropshire in May 2006 is 2,599. This is 603 higher than the previous year, but it is nearly 1,700 lower than it was in 1997, and nearly 10,000 lower than it was in 1986 under the last Government.

Tax Credits

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of fraud in the tax credit system in 2005-06.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC has published estimates of error and fraud for tax credits from the random enquiry programme on its website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed in HM Revenue and Customs to handle  (a) tax credit complaints and  (b) telephone calls about tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: On  (a), I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 13 December 2005,  Official Report, column 1835W, 18 July 2005,  Official Report, column 1333W, and 6 July 2005,  Official Report, column 437W.
	As to  (b), around 3,500 FTE staff were employed on tax credits helplines in May 2006.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors were taken into account when deciding that industrial injuries disablement should not be treated as income for tax credit purposes.

Dawn Primarolo: The child and working tax credits are part of the tax system, so the tax credits income assessment is generally based on income tax rules. Apart from industrial death benefit pensions, industrial injuries benefit is exempt from income tax and, therefore, is not taken into account as income for tax credit purposes.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1724W, on tax credits, if he will break down the management information data collected by the period for which it is collected.

Dawn Primarolo: A wide variety of management information is kept across all the HMRC business areas involved in the administration of tax credits. This is a combination of reports and the extraction of supplementary information as and when required.
	Because of the large amount of information produced it is not practicable to provide a comprehensive breakdown. This management information is used to provide data for the Department's annual report.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the results of the proactive contact pilots designed to reduce tax credit overpayments.

Dawn Primarolo: All three phases of the proactive contact pilot exercise have been completed and the initial results are being evaluated. The impact in terms of helping claimants to avoid an overpayment cannot be determined until after the 2005-06 awards have been finalised later this year.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the extent of tax credit fraud by migrant workers; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people are receiving tax credits in the UK while living abroad; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what steps he has taken in the last 12 months to reduce tax credit fraud by migrant workers.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answers 11 July 2006
	Tax credits are normally only payable to people who are present and ordinarily resident in the UK. The residence rules for eligibility to tax credits are explained on the HMRC website, at www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/residence-rules.htm
	In some cases, recipients of child tax credit may have legitimate foreign correspondence addresses. These include, for example, families of the armed forces or other Crown servants serving abroad.
	HMRC takes fraud very seriously and has a range of checks in place throughout the life of each claim. If fraud is suspected, payment is stopped.

International Finance Facility

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the international finance facility; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) was launched in September 2005 with contributions from France, Italy, Spain and Sweden, as well as the UK. Norway, Brazil and South Africa have since pledged contributions. The first bonds will be issued within a few months, and the IFFIm will begin purchasing vaccines and delivering these to the poorest countries through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) before the end of the year. The IFFIm will demonstrate the benefits of frontloading aid using legally binding, long-term commitments from donors through issuing bonds in international capital markets.
	The World Health Organisation estimates that in frontloading aid and investing an extra $4 billion in vaccination now, the IFFIm is expected to save a total of 10 million lives, including 5 million children before 2015. The on-going effectiveness of the disbursements will be monitored by GAVI.

Makinson Incentive Scheme

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the evaluation of the Makinson incentive scheme in HM Customs and Excise.

Dawn Primarolo: Incentive schemes for teams (team bonuses) were trialled within HM Customs and Excise between July 2000 and 31 December 2002 in two phases. The first, from 1 July 2000 to 31 March 2001, involved six teams and a total of 650 staff. A second more extensive trial took place between April 2002 and 31 December 2002. It involved 12 teams ranging in size from 24 to 890. The trials were subject to rigorous evaluation during and at the end of the trials.

Advanced Pricing Agreements

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many advanced pricing agreements  (a) have been made and  (b) were in force with multinational companies in each year since 2001; and in how many cases in each year (i) enforcement action was taken and (ii) penalties were imposed in transfer pricing disputes.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 6 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1258-59W.

Antique Imports

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what VAT regulations apply to importing antiques; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The law relating to the import of antiques is covered in the VAT Act 1994 as amended, section 1 and section 21 items (4 and 5(b)).

Financial Literacy

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned to ascertain the level of financial literacy in the UK; and whether this has sought to ascertain differences in financial literacy in different  (a) age groups,  (b) genders,  (c) classes,  (d) ethnic groups and  (e) occupations.

Edward Balls: The Financial Services Authority (FSA), in partnership with the Government, the financial services industry and voluntary organisations, leads the national strategy for financial capability.
	The FSA recently published a comprehensive baseline survey(1) to establish the current state of financial capability in the UK. Published on 27 March 2006, the baseline survey identified five separate components of financial capability: making ends meet, keeping track of your finances, planning ahead, choosing financial products and staying informed about financial matters.
	The full research report, "consumer research 47 Levels of Financial Capability in the UK: Results of a baseline survey" (available at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/consumer-research/crpr47.pdf), provides detailed analysis of each component and includes commentary of differences by particular groupings such as age, gender, income, qualifications, ethnicity, employment status and housing tenure.
	Information on social class and occupation was not collected but the FSA has incorporated a proxy measure based on a wide range of life-stage characteristics(2) which is undergoing further analysis.
	The FSA continues to analyse the data, particularly to understand more about the needs of more vulnerable groups. The survey will be repeated in the next four to five years to assess the impact of initiatives targeted to improve financial capability.
	(1) In total 5,328 respondents were interviewed July-September 2005 to provide a robust measurement of financial capability in the UK population.
	(2) Using Experian's Financial Strategy Segments

New Buildings (VAT)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on proposals to exempt from value-added tax new buildings for use by youth and educational facilities and the local community.

John Healey: VAT is chargeable on the construction of all new youth, educational or other community facilities, except those new buildings that will be used at least 90 per cent. for a relevant charitable purpose, such as the provision of free-of-charge education by a charity. In such cases, construction of the building is VAT zero-rated. VAT agreements with our European partners mean that while we can maintain this relief for the construction of charitable buildings, it cannot be extended further.

Pension Tax Relief

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will estimate the savings to public funds of restricting all pension tax relief to a maximum of 22 per cent.; and what that saving is estimated to be in the first year in which it is intended to implement the proposed new personal pension arrangements;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the 1 per cent. contribution to be made to personal pension arrangements under the Government's recent proposals in the first year in which the arrangement will come into effect.

Edward Balls: In relation to the savings from restricting tax relief on pension contributions to a maximum of 22 per cent., I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) on 26 April 2006,  Official Report, column 1175W.
	The estimate of the cost to public funds of the tax relief available to individuals in the proposed system of personal accounts is extremely uncertain and will depend on individual levels of participation. The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) published in May 2006 by the Department for Work and Pensions—"Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system", "Regulatory Impact Assessments and technical annexes"—estimates that the increased saving resulting from the proposals could increase tax relief paid on individual contributions by around £1 billion once the scheme is fully operational. On the same central assumption of take-up as the RIA for the first year of personal accounts, the cost of tax relief on individual contributions is estimated to be £350 million, of which £100 million is estimated to be higher rate tax relief. The costs are lower in the first year owing to the proposed three-year phasing of contributions for both employers and employees.

Postage Stamps

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether postage stamps are subject to the same VAT regulations as other antiques when they have been imported into the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: Postage stamps that are no longer legal tender even if of an age of 100 years or over are covered by subsection (c) of section 21(5) of the VAT Act 1994 which states that any collection or collector's piece of philatelic interest qualifies for the reduced rate of VAT at 5 per cent. Antiques are covered by subsection (b) of 21(5) of the VAT Act 1994.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Clissold Road Swimming Pool

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with members and officers of the London borough of Hackney on the case of the closed Clissold road swimming pool.

Tessa Jowell: I have had no official discussions. Sport England has continued to monitor developments towards the re-opening of Clissold Leisure Centre, through a project working group established by the London borough of Hackney. Sport England has also instigated a series of meetings between its executive directors and a representative of the Mayor's office, in the London borough of Hackney. The object of these meetings is to provide regular updates and to ensure that the agreed time scales and milestones towards the Centre's re-opening are being met.

Environmental Standards

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department  (a) is committed to the achievement of environmental management to ISO 14001 standard and  (b) has been externally certified as in compliance with that standard; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: New sustainable operations targets for the Government Estate were launched on 12 June by the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	The new targets included a commitment that all Government Departments should have an Environmental Management System (EMS) in place, based or modelled upon a recognised system (such as ISO14001, or the European regulation EMAS).
	Previous targets for EMSs for the Government Estate (published September 2002) had the same wording as the recently announced commitment.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport currently has an uncertified EMS based on IS014001 and has a planned timetable to certify its EMS externally in line with the new standards for IS014001 by March 2007.
	Departments have submitted data relevant to this question (including external certification) for annual Sustainable Development in Government Reports. The last Report published by the Sustainable Development Commission in December 2005, covering the reporting period April 2004 to March 2005, is available at: http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/watchdog.

Licensing Laws

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what regulations govern the licensing of pubs that offer adult entertainment in the form of strip dancing.

Shaun Woodward: Public houses offering such forms of entertainment are licensable under the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) if they are selling alcohol and if they are putting on regulated entertainment such as the performance of dance. As such, their activities are open to scrutiny in relation to the four licensing objectives: public safety, the prevention of crime and disorder, the protection of children from harm and the prevention of public nuisance.
	Pornography, indecent displays, public indecency and obscenity legislation are matters for the Home Office.

London Olympics

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether there are plans to allow members of the public to stay overnight in the Royal Parks during the 2012 Olympic games;
	(2)  what plans there are for public events in the Royal Parks during the 2012 Olympic games;
	(3)  what discussions have been held between her Department and representatives of the Royal Parks on use of those parks by members of the public during the 2012 Olympic games;
	(4)  what discussions have been held on the use of Richmond park during the 2012 Olympic games.

David Lammy: holding answer 12 July 2006
	Richmond park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve—as well as a candidate European Special Conservation Area—and there are no plans to use it for the Olympic games.
	Some of the other Royal Parks—Greenwich park, Hyde park, Regent's park and Horse Guards Parade in St. James's park—will be hosting Olympic events, and these are bound to affect whether, and how, the public will be able to use certain areas of these parks.
	Planning for the cultural programme and the details of the role that the Royal Parks will play in it is still at an early stage. However, my officials have already been discussing with the Royal Parks how the games will impact on the parks, and will continue to involve them in the planning of aspects of the games, and their attendant events, which might affect them before during and after the games take place.
	There are no plans to make the Royal Parks available for overnight accommodation during the games. There are thousands of hotels, guest houses and hostels in and around London, offering excellent accommodation.

Parliamentary Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many parliamentary questions tabled to her Department were awaiting a reply on 10 July 2006; which of those had been waiting longer than  (a) two and  (b) three weeks for a reply; and what the reason for the delay was in each case.

David Lammy: Forty-two parliamentary questions tabled to DCMS were awaiting a reply on 10 July 2006. None of these had been waiting longer than two weeks for a reply.

Philip Anschutz

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she was informed of the Deputy Prime Minister's intention to stay with Philip Anschutz during his visit to the US in July 2005.

Tessa Jowell: I was not informed of the Deputy Prime Minister's intention to stay with Philip Anschutz, nor would I expect to have been.

Public Libraries

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 1608-9W to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on library closures, how many libraries  (a) closed,  (b) were scheduled for closure and  (c) opened in (i) rural areas and (ii) non-rural areas in that period; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The table in the answer to which the hon. Member refers was derived from the Public Library Statistics published annually by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). These do not break down the numbers of public libraries by rural and non-rural areas, however defined.
	Nevertheless, the CIPFA statistics contain year on year figures allowing comparisons to be made between the numbers of libraries operated by the London boroughs (inner, outer and the City), metropolitan districts, counties and unitary authorities. The statistics also offer breakdowns by English region. Copies are held by the House Library.

Public Libraries

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the  (a) performance and  (b) popularity of Sutton's self-service public library.

David Lammy: There has been no such assessment. Day to day operational issues are for the judgment of the 149 library authorities in England.
	However, I understand that the self-issue facilities in place at Sutton's libraries have proved popular with the majority of users and, along with other improvements, have contributed to an increased number of visits and issues as well as helping with stock management.
	Part of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's (MLA's) role is to investigate and disseminate good practice. Some of the improvements at Sutton libraries are featured on the Designing Libraries website, jointly funded by the MLA, at www.designinglibraries.org.uk.

TV Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what meetings Ofcom has held with organisations and individuals to discuss restrictions on television advertising for food products targeting children; and which meetings were  (a) initiated by Ofcom and  (b) attended by Ofcom in response to requests from a third party;
	(2)  what the length was of each meeting attended by Ofcom to discuss restrictions on television advertising of food products targeting children; and which meetings were with organisations  (a) in favour of,  (b) opposed to and  (c) neutral on restrictions of such advertising.

Shaun Woodward: The matters raised are the responsibility of the Office of Communications as independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

TV Licence Savings Card

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assistance her Department is giving to elderly people to transfer from television licence savings stamps to the new savings card before the deadline of 31 July; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of people have transferred from television licence savings stamps to the new savings card to date; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the number of elderly people who will have transferred from television licence savings stamps to the new savings card by 31 July; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the decision to replace television licence savings stamps with a savings card on  (a) people residing in rural areas and  (b) elderly people; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The provision of assistance to licence fee payers switching from savings stamps to savings cards is a matter for the BBC, as television licensing authority, rather than the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The corporation is also responsible for maintaining licensing records. I have asked the BBC's head of revenue management to reply.
	The Department's assessment of the impact of replacing savings stamps is likely to be limited. Stamp sales have been falling for several years, being 60 per cent. lower in 2005-06 than in 1999-2000. The introduction of free TV licences for over-75s has relieved some 3.5 million older citizens of the need to pay the licence fee.

TV Licences

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people  (a) received free television licences and  (b) evaded payment of a television licence in West Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Shaun Woodward: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, does not record the number of free licences issued, or the estimated evasion rate, by parliamentary constituency. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2004-05 in the West Lancashire constituency was 4,975, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

TRANSPORT

Aviation Emissions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has held with his foreign counterparts about measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from aviation.

Gillian Merron: The subject of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from aviation was last discussed by EU Transport Council members in October 2005. Subsequently the December 2005 Environment Council recognised that the inclusion of the aviation sector in the EU Emission Trading Scheme seemed to be the best way forward and urged the Commission to bring forward a legislative proposal by the end of 2006. We intend to work closely with foreign counterparts as the details of this proposal take shape.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 967W, on roads, what modelling has been applied to the road schemes in the Highways Agency targeted programme of improvements on carbon dioxide emissions; whether the estimate from the "Future of Transport" White Paper included such modelling; and why this figure remained unchanged from the original 10-year Transport Plan of 2000 despite the inclusion of additional new schemes.

Stephen Ladyman: Modelling has been applied at two levels to the road schemes in the targeted programme of improvements (TPI): first at the individual scheme level where carbon dioxide assessments are carried out in accordance with the guidance in the Design Manual of Roads and Bridges (DMRB) volume 11.3.1, and secondly, at the national level (for all schemes) using the Department's National Transport Model.
	The road build included in our national modelling is the Highway Agency's illustrative forward programme of schemes. This includes schemes in the targeted programme of improvements (TPI), plus an estimate of schemes that may make their way into the TPI going forward.
	The modelling carried out for the "Future of Transport" White Paper included this HA illustrative programme, with it adding around 0.15 million tonnes of carbon in 2010, in England. The carbon added from just the current TPI would, therefore, be somewhat less than this, as my estimate of the 12 June response reflects.
	The modelling carried out for the 10-year Transport Plan gave an aggregated figure for the carbon impact of the plan as a whole (including sustainable distribution etc.) and did not split out the road build impact. However, given that the amount of road build in the 10-year plan is of a similar magnitude to that modelled for the White Paper, the carbon impact is likely to be of similar size as well.

Cars

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) percentage of households without access to a car (i) in total, (ii) in each region, (iii) in each local authority area, (iv) in each income quintile and (v) in each classification of residential neighbourhoods in (A) the latest year for which figures are available and (B) 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: Data available from the National Travel Survey on the number of households without access to a car in each region, and the percentage of households without access to a car, (i) in Great Britain, (ii) in each region, (iii) in each income quintile and (iv) by the Office for National Statistics area classification, are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Households without access to a car in Great Britain, by region, income quintile and ONS area classification 
			   Number (Thousand)  Percentage 
			   1997  2003  1996-98  2004 
			 Great Britain 7,110 — 30 26 
			  
			  Region 
			 North East 440 410 40 32 
			 North West and Merseyside 880 790 31 27 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 700 640 33 28 
			 East Midlands 470 380 28 24 
			 West Midlands 660 540 31 24 
			 Eastern 470 480 21 18 
			 London 1,150 1,250 38 41 
			 South East 640 620 20 19 
			 South West 460 430 22 18 
			 England 5,860 5,520 29 25 
			 Wales 370 330 31 24 
			 Scotland 830 — 38 32 
			  
			  Income quintile 
			 Lowest real income level — — 60 54 
			 Second level — — 50 37 
			 Third level — — 23 20 
			 Fourth level — — 11 11 
			 Highest real income level — — 5 8 
			  
			  ONS area classification 
			 Industrial Hinterlands — — — 28 
			 Traditional manufacturing — — — 40 
			 Built-up Areas — — — 43 
			 Prospering Metropolitan — — — 46 
			 Student Communities — — — 25 
			 Multicultural Metropolitan — — — 54 
			 Suburbs and Small towns — — — 16 
			 Coastal and Countryside — — — 20 
			 Accessible Countryside — — — 7 
		
	
	The data requested are not available by local authority. Data based on the ONS area classification are not available for 1997. Estimates of the number of households are available by region for 1997 and for English regions and Wales for 2003, but are not available for more recent years or by income quintile or area classification.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains per hour will use the Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Stratford during peak hours; how many of these will be  (a) domestic and  (b) international; and what the full passenger capacity of each train will be.

Derek Twigg: We will not be in a position to know how many trains per hour will use the CTRL at Stratford during peak hours until the domestic operator (London South Eastern Railways), and the international operator (Eurostar) announce their timetables for these new services.
	Subject to final confirmation of the design requirements, the high speed domestic trains are expected to comprise six-car trains with about 350 seats. The six-car trains will be capable of being coupled to run as 12-car trains. The international trains comprise 16 carriages and have 766 seats.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what facilities there are at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for the return of original documents by secure delivery.

Stephen Ladyman: It should be emphasised that identity documents are required with applications for a first photocard driving licence only and where there are personal changes subsequently. As over 25 million drivers now have a photocard licence the requirement for identity documents is diminishing. In addition, arrangements are in place for digitised passports to be checked by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) online with the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). Non digitised UK passports can be checked at Post Offices, with the same facility available at DVLA's 40 Local Offices, which can also check ED passports and those from certain designated countries where licence exchange agreements exist. All these facilities remove the need for submission of a passport to DVLA.
	The use of Special/Recorded delivery arrangements for the return of all submitted identity documents to drivers has been examined, but it would involve substantial clerical intervention, which would result in a significant increase in the fees charged for driving licences. The use of plain fit-for-purpose envelopes by DVLA has not revealed any widespread problems. Some drivers send their own special envelopes for return, but this is a matter of personal choice.

Large Goods Vehicles

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce  (a) a mandatory register of large goods vehicles instructors and  (b) a system of check-testing rather than re-testing for large goods vehicle instructors.

Stephen Ladyman: Currently we have no powers to introduce a mandatory register of LGV instructors. Parliament is currently considering a Road Safety Bill that includes provision to introduce such a scheme by regulation. Arrangements to assure standards maintenance would be part of the consultation before any scheme was introduced.
	Before the voluntary register was established in 1997, the Driving Standards Agency proposed a continuing test of instructional fitness and ability (or 'check-test') as the means to stay on the register. In response to consultation with the road freight industry and its training representatives, the industry argued strongly for re-qualifying exams involving practical assessment of driving as well as instruction as the means to remain qualified.

Nuclear Material (Transportation)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much nuclear material is typically transported in a nuclear transport vessel; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the marine environment in the event of an accident or attack causing all such material to leak into the sea.

Stephen Ladyman: All vessels carrying packaged irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive wastes must be certified as complying with the stringent criteria of the International Code for such cargoes known as the INF Code before they are able to be used for such purposes.
	It is not possible to quote "typical quantities" transported in a nuclear transport vessel as the quantity of material varies according to the business contract being served.
	The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published a report in July 2001 to examine the severity, probability and risk of accidents during the maritime transport of radioactive material. In this study the IAEA considered the shipment of radioactive materials including the shipment of irradiated fuel, plutonium, high-level vitrified wastes and fresh mixed oxide (MOX) fuel in a nuclear transport vessel. The study considered a number of issues related to accidents at sea, accident statistics, risk studies and emergency response. The study concluded that all the scientific information available in this area demonstrated that there were very low levels of radiological risk and environmental consequences from the sea transport of radioactive material.

Nuclear Waste Transportation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway lines  (a) in and  (b) outside London are used for the transportation of nuclear waste.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 26 June 2006
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1419W.

Ports

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the processes and procedures are for co-ordination between the port health authorities throughout the UK and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Stephen Ladyman: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of Port Health Authorities, which
	ensures that procedures are in place and implemented for the public health and safety of seafarers and passengers, and to prevent pollution from ships;
	ensures the most effective use of resources and expertise, to provide a joined up approach;
	promotes awareness of food safety and food hygiene and public health standards throughout the Maritime Industry;
	and
	allows for the appropriate enforcement of all relevant legislation to ensure that effective systems of food hygiene are maintained aboard ships.
	The Government keeps under review arrangements for co-ordination and co-operation between bodies with an interest in port health matters.

Rail Passengers (Overcrowding)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit Castle Point to discuss the overcrowding on the c2c Fenchurch Street Line and the process for obtaining a new terminus rail station on Canvey Island to relieve that overcrowding.

Derek Twigg: There are no plans by the Department for extending the line to Canvey Island and a new terminus station on Canvey Island would not, in itself, reduce crowding on the route.
	The Department would consider any fully-costed business case for proposals for new stations or developments to the national rail network.
	c2c has been consulting on proposed December 2006 timetable changes which they say will lead to additional seats in the morning peak.

Reactor Fuel (Shipping)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether  (a) former roll-on-roll-off ferries and  (b) other single-hulled, single-engine vessels have been used to transport mixed-oxide reactor fuel in British waters (i) since 1997 and (ii) in the last 30 years.

Stephen Ladyman: The transportation of mixed oxide reactor fuels is a commercial matter for the suppliers, carriers and owners of the material.
	All vessels used to transport mixed-oxide reactor fuel must be certified as complying with the International Code for such cargoes known as the INF Code, before they are able to be used for such purposes.
	The criteria needed to be met by the INF Code vessels are stringent and include comprehensive certification, robust damage stability, enhanced fire safety measures, strict management and training of crew and a competent and well tested shipboard emergency plan.

Reactor Fuel (Shipping)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much mixed oxide reactor fuel has passed through British waters in each year since 1997; and from which countries it has come.

Stephen Ladyman: The amounts of mixed-oxide reactor fuels on board ships is a commercial matter for the suppliers, carriers and owners of the material.

Reactor Fuel (Shipping)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his maritime pollution contingency plans include how to respond to an accident involving a vessel transporting nuclear fuel.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations does indeed cover incidents involving a ship carrying radioactive materials.

Reactor Fuel (Shipping)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes are planned to the way in which mixed oxide reactor fuel is transported in British waters.

Stephen Ladyman: The transport of mixed-oxide reactor fuel is in accordance with a comprehensive framework of international regulations and agreements which are reflected in national legislation to ensure that the levels of safety provided by the equipment and its operation meet certain stringent requirements. The UK will continue to meet its obligations to implement the latest edition of these international regulations and agreements.
	As part of our continuing assessment of the radiological consequences of transporting radioactive material by sea, studies are carried approximately every 10 years. We will be commissioning the next study within the next three months. Should the findings of this study require changes to the international regulations or agreements, the UK Government will propose those changes by established processes, including consultation with industry and environmental stakeholders.

Speed Limits

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to allow a local highways authority to decide not to install a national speed limit sign at the end of a lower speed limit zone if  (a) such a decision can be justified by the rural nature of the road and  (b) the road concerned is a cul-de-sac.

Stephen Ladyman: Local highway authorities have the power to set speed limits at an appropriate level. All changes of speed limit are required by law to be clearly signed to allow drivers ample time to adjust their speed accordingly.
	Drivers are required to know the speed limit in force at any given time and the Department would not wish to mislead them into thinking a lower speed limit was in force, irrespective of the circumstances. It is also important to retain national consistency.

Tonnage Tax Participants

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid by tonnage tax participants as payment in lieu of training in each of the last five years for which records are available; and how the money was spent.

Stephen Ladyman: It was agreed when the tonnage tax scheme was devised that the collection of payments in lieu of training (PILOT) and the distribution of moneys would be carried out independently of the Department. PILOT payments are made to the Maritime Training Trust (MTT), a body set up by the Chamber of Shipping and maritime trade unions, and the moneys received are allocated by the Maritime Educational Foundation (MEF), a charity established by the MTT to promote UK seafarer training. My officials have contacted the MTT/MEF, which will provide the requested information direct to the hon. Member.

Traffic Volume

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) total volume and  (b) percentage change in traffic was for each year between 1997 and 2006; and what proportion of the change he estimates derived from each (i) income quintile and (ii) classification of residential neighbourhoods.

Stephen Ladyman: The levels of motor vehicle traffic and the percentage changes each year from 1997 to 2005 are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Motor vehicle traffic estimates, Great Britain, 1997 to 2005 
			  Billion vehicle kilometres and percentage change 
			   All motor vehicles  Percentage change from previous year 
			 1997 450.3 2.1 
			 1998 458.5 1.8 
			 1999 467.0 1.8 
			 2000 467.1 0.0 
			 2001 474.4 1.6 
			 2002 486.5 2.5 
			 2003 490.4 0.8 
			 2004 498.6 1.7 
			 2005 499.4 0.2 
		
	
	It is not possible to estimate the proportion of the change attributable to each income quintile or according to the classification of residential neighbourhoods.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value is of outstanding unpaid claims to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in respect of problems MOT garages have experienced with the new MOT computer system.

Stephen Ladyman: On 30 June 2006, there are unpaid claims totalling £114,300 relating to problems with MOT Computerisation. VOSA is considering each case submitted to determine whether it is justified.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people his Department calculated as being liable for payment of vehicle excise duty in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Vehicle excise duty (VED) is levied on vehicles, not individuals. As vehicles can be owned by more than one person or by a company or organisation, figures for the number of people liable to pay VED are not available. Statistics showing the number of licensed vehicles for each year from 1995-2005 are available on the Department for Transport website at the following address:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/downloadable/dft_transstats_611686.xls#' Table 1'!A1

SCOTLAND

Departmental Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  if he will list the Government Bills sponsored by his Department that are still to be introduced during the 2005-06 session;
	(2)  if he will list the Government Bills sponsored by his Department that he has bid for in the next session of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1431W, by my right hon. Friend, the Leader of the House.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the draft Bills produced by his Department since October 2005; state how many were examined or are planned to be examined by  (a) a Departmental Select Committee or a combination of Select Committees and  (b) a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: No draft Bills have been produced by the Scotland Office since October 2005. Announcements on future legislation and future draft legislation which will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny will be indicated in the Queen's Speech.

Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions he has visited each region in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend has not visited any Government office regions in England during the last 12 months in his capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland. However, both he and I undertake regular visits throughout Scotland.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Air Conditioning Systems

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the estimated average  (a) energy use,  (b) direct greenhouse gas emissions and  (c) indirect greenhouse gas emissions were for air conditioning systems to cool domestic homes in the last year for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	No detailed information is available about the number of air conditioning units in domestic homes or their associated energy consumption.
	However, the Government's market transformation programme (MTP) has collected estimates of the amount of energy consumed by air conditioning units in the UK that are subject to the Energy Information (Household Air Conditioners) No. 2 Regulations 2005 (that is, units which consume less than 12 kilowatts). The 2005 regulatory impact assessment for those regulations indicate that these appliances, which are used in both domestic and commercial premises, consume about 5.6 terawatt hours of electricity per year. This is equivalent to approximately 672,000 tonnes of carbon. The report is available on the DEFRA website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/energvlabeHing-regsaircon/index.htm
	No information is collected for indirect greenhouse gas emissions from these appliances.

Ambassadors for British Business

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the  (a) status,  (b) activities and  (c) funding are of the Ambassadors for British Business; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Ambassadors for British Business scheme has not existed for some time. However, UK trade and investment continues to involve senior business representatives in helping the success of UK business internationally and also in attracting quality foreign direct investment to the UK. These representatives make a valuable contribution that is much appreciated.

Consolidated Resource Accounts

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) of 9 March 2006,  Official Report, column 1727W, on consolidated resource accounts, what the nature is of the cases referred to under parts  (b) and  (d) of the Special Payments losses.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Regarding the nature of the cases referred to under part  (b):
	Three payments were made to ex-members of DTI staff whose employment was terminated on inefficiency grounds. The payments, amounting to £33,487, relate to increases in compensation payments made to individuals following their appeal to the civil service Appeals Board. The payments represent 0.01 per cent. of the total value of the Department's staff costs.
	Regarding the nature of the cases referred to under part  (d):
	Miscellaneous payments to DTI staff for damage to property, personal injury and miscalculations of entitlement amounting to £78,274 can be broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Description  £ 
			 An overpayment of pension benefits due to an error in the pension calculation of an ex-employee. When the error came to light the DTI had to re-imburse Cabinet Office as the original payment had been met from their vote. 24,000 
			 A payment to an individual who retired on compulsory early retirement terms. The sum represents 3 months salary in lieu of notice. 18,000 
			 Payments were made to a member of staff at Westfield House to cover compensation for personal injury and related legal fees. 15,000 
			 A payment was made under the Disability Discrimination Act in an out of court settlement following a harassment complaint from a member of staff. 7,000 
			 A payment was made to a former employee to settle a possible tribunal case, arising from alleged discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act. 2,500 
			 Payments made to cover damage to Government or Government-hired vehicles. 1,450 
			 Minor payments, less than £1,000 each, were made for personal injury claims. 10,325 
			 Total 78,275

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to make copies of deposited papers available in the  (a) Vote Office and  (b) Printed Paper Office at the same time as copies are deposited in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House (Mr. Straw) on 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 729W.

Energy Use

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to help companies who are heavy energy users to maintain competitiveness with European competitors.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government understands the tough conditions in which energy consumers are operating and is leaving no stone unturned, working closely with industry, to find solutions and reduce the impact. The Government fully appreciates that high energy prices create problems for the competitiveness of industry, and takes very seriously the potential loss of jobs and investment.
	Estimates suggest that in April 2006 industrial gas and electricity prices in the UK including taxes were above the EU median for all but the smallest consumers. However, historically prices to industrial users have been below the EU median, and right up to October 2005 prices were no higher than the EU median, except for the very largest energy consumers.
	Our discussions with the Energy Intensive Users Group and others have helped us focus our efforts on maximising gas and electricity supplies, improving the operation of the market, encouraging demand side response and pursuing fair access to markets across Europe. Over the summer we are pursuing a detailed work plan with Ofgem, National Grid, industry and others to ensure we have examined all the options and that we are in the best possible position ahead of next winter. The new Business Energy Forum, co-chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Richard Lambert of the CBI, which met for the first time on 5 July, is monitoring this work and looking at other strategic energy issues impacting on business.
	Other Ministers and I will continue to take every opportunity to raise the issue of implementation of energy market liberalisation across the EU in meetings with the Commission and our opposite numbers in other member state Governments. We welcome the Commission's decision to initiate infraction proceedings against 17 member states, and the series of dawn raids in six member states in pursuance of anti-trust action. These actions should lead to a change of behaviour across the EU.

Post Office Services

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department will undertake a review of Post Office service provision in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We are currently considering options for the Post Office network beyond 2008. There has already been informal consultation with key stakeholders and we expect to consult more widely in due course.
	Post Office Ltd (POL) recently produced a report on rural pilot activity involving innovative ways of delivering postal services. We are looking at the findings of the report and want others to have the chance to do the same. No further decisions on the rural network will be taken until we have had the time the fully consider the report and views of stakeholders.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Deputy Prime Minister

Paul Beresford: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 729W, on the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will seek to include the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the remit of a Select Committee.

Jack Straw: No.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Paul Beresford: To ask the Leader of the House which members of the Cabinet do not have their ministerial responsibilities scrutinised by a Select Committee.

Jack Straw: All members of the Cabinet are subject to scrutiny by Select Committees in respect of their ministerial responsibilities. Those whose main responsibilities do not relate to the Departments covered by Standing Order No 152 (Select Committees related to Government Departments) are the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the House of Commons, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Leader of the House of Lords and President of the Council, the Minister without Portfolio, and the Chief Whip in the House of Commons.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

2012 Olympics

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2005,  Official Report, column 1687 to the then hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent, on the 2012 Olympics, whether he plans to locate a branch of the National Skills Academy working on skills development for the 2012 Olympics in  (a) Wales and  (b) Blaenau Gwent.

Phil Hope: Education and skills are devolved policy areas. The Government's commitment to establish a network of sector-based National Skills Academies (NSAs) is a skills initiative designed to operate in England. Sector Skills Councils, however, have the development lead for NSAs and also hold a UK-wide remit, regulated in Wales by protocol with Education and Learning Wales. Employers there and in Scotland and Northern Ireland may well wish to see NSAs reach across the UK and their engagement with their Sector Skills Councils will determine their wider establishment. Construction Skills, the Sector Skills Council leading the development of the Construction Skills Academy is planning a series of workshops to be held in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to explore the potential for introducing NSA arrangements there. The NSA for Construction is currently in the business planning stage with an announcement concerning its opening expected in the autumn.

Biometric Information (Children)

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department's policy is with regard to  (a) the (i) finger-printing and (ii) taking of (A) DNA and (B) other biometric information from children (1) under the age of 10 years, (2) between the ages of 10 and 16 years and (3) over 16 years but under 19 years without the consent of their parents or legal guardians and  (b) the retention of that biometric information by Government organisations.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on 27 February 2006,  Official Report, column 504W.

Child Care, Cumbria

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources are being deployed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection to assess whether Cumbria county council is complying with national standards in the delivery of services for the care of children.

Beverley Hughes: This is a matter for the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). David Behan, CSCI's Chief Inspector, has written to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from David Behan, dated 10 July 2006:
	You recently asked a Parliamentary Question of the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. The question was:
	"What resources are being deployed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection to assess whether Cumbria County Council is complying with national standards in the delivery of services for the care of children?"
	That question has been referred to me for reply.
	The Commission for Social Care Inspection has a team of local inspectors based at Penrith who are responsible for assessing residential and domiciliary care services for both adults and children in Cumbria. Inspectors assess services against the same standards regardless of whether those services are provided by the County Council or the private or voluntary sector.
	In addition to this, there have been service inspections, which cover assessment and care management delivered by the social services authority (Cumbria CC) as well as direct care provision. Specific inspections for Children's Services were carried out most recently in 2003, with a follow up inspection carried out in 2004. A service inspection team is currently working with Ofsted on a Joint Area Review of all Children's Services in Cumbria. This will report in September.
	Until last year Social Services in Cumbria were receiving monthly monitoring visits and additional support because of concerns over their performance. In the performance assessment published in December 2005 the council was awarded one star, up from zero stars the previous year. The 2005 judgements in relation to children's services were that Cumbria were serving some children well, with promising capacity to improve.
	The budget available to the Penrith office in 2006/07 totals £937,000. Of this, staffing costs are £872,000. Cumbria County Council is the only council in the Penrith Office's jurisdiction. There is one Business Relationship Manager (BRM) and one Performance Information Manager (PIM) with responsibility for Cumbria County Council (as well as Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council). In addition to this, there are two Regional Managers and twelve dedicated Regulation Inspectors (two deal with children's resources and ten with adults) for Cumbria region.
	A copy of this answer is being sent to DfES who will make arrangements with the Parliamentary authorities for the answer to be placed in the official record (Hansard).

Children's Centres

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres have been set up in each year since the 2003 pre-Budget report.

Beverley Hughes: The following table provides a breakdown of the number of designated Sure Start children's centres at the end of each financial year from 31 March 2004 to 31 March 2006:
	
		
			  Date (by 31 March each year)  New Sure Start children's centres 
			 2004 66 
			 2005 161 
			 2006 609 
			 Total 836 
		
	
	The children's centre programme has now entered its second phase with a target to create a total of 2,500 children's centres by March 2008.

City Academies

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether city academies are required to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Jim Knight: Academies are not currently required to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs may, under section 5 of the FOIA, extend the Act through regulations to other bodies not currently covered. However, I understand that the DCA is currently looking at the lessons learnt from the current implementation of the Act before looking to extend it further.

Further Education Colleges

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many courses were offered at further education colleges in  (a) tarot card reading,  (b) stand-up comedy and  (c) Australian cake decorating in the past three years.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 3 July 2006
	The nature of these courses means that many are not readily identifiable through the national qualifications framework or other formal qualification bodies. This means we are unable to accurately estimate the number of these courses. However, we are aware from providers' prospectuses of these type of courses being offered by some providers.
	We would expect courses that are valued by learners to continue, but those who can, should contribute more to the cost of that learning. Public funding for courses for personal and community development has been 'protected'/ringfenced at £210 million per year for 2006/07 and 2007/08.

Foreign Language Courses

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many sixth form institutions in England offer two or more modern foreign language courses.

Jim Knight: Information is not collected on the subjects offered by sixth form institutions, however it is possible to provide figures on the number of institutions where at least one pupil has been entered for a particular subject.
	2,329 sixth form institutions in England had entrants in two or more modern foreign language courses at GCE AS Level and GCE A Level in the academic year 2004/05.
	This answer covers the following modern foreign languages: Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Urdu, and Persian.

Internet and Mobile Phones

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with  (a) Microsoft and  (b) other IT companies on improving safe internet and mobile phone use in schools.

Phil Hope: The Department for Education and Skills supported the launch of the Microsoft led 'Getting To Know IT All' campaign. This focussed on internet and mobile safety and as part of the campaign produced an educational resource pack for secondary schools. The Department had no direct links with the campaign but discussions between officials and Microsoft would have taken place in the run up to its launch which included a ministerial presence.
	Our agency (Becta) established an accreditation of Internet Services to Education as part of our wider strategy to address internet safety in education. This is open to commercial internet service providers (ISPs).
	The Department and Becta, through membership on the Home Office Taskforce for Child Protection on the Internet, which includes representatives of the internet and mobile industry, meets regularly to discuss relevant and key issues related to internet and mobile safety and have together developed key codes of practice.

Learning and Skills Council

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Council to retrain and develop its staff to fulfil the Agenda for Change.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is undertaking a range of activity at national and local level to help staff prepare for their new roles both in and outside the LSC. Mark Haysom, the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council, has written to the hon. Member explaining more detailed arrangements for staff development and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 13 July 2006:
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the steps the LSC are taking to retrain and develop its staff to fulfil the agenda for change.
	Staff have access to an almost unlimited amount of Ashridge Management Institute on-line learning; Learning and Development advisers are working with redeployees to help them identify their development needs, Right Coutts provide training and support around CV preparation, job search, interview skills etc.
	At each grade in the organisation we are appointing a number of people who did not demonstrate the minimum level to be confirmed in a new role post. These individuals are appointed to the post with the support of a development programme of between 6 months and 12 months, This will include one to one coaching and also appropriate formal training to bring them up to the minimum competence requirements of the role. Following Band 3 appointments we will have a total of approximately 130+ staff following such development plans.
	From Autumn onwards we will be launching a range of development initiatives addressing leadership, management skills, effective partnership working etc to support the establishment of the new organisation and ways of working.
	I trust this information is helpful.

Mandarin

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students graduated with Mandarin as their first degree in each year between 1997 and 2005.

Bill Rammell: The available information shows the number of students who have graduated with a degree in Chinese, and is shown in the table. Separate figures for those who have obtained a qualification in Mandarin are not held centrally. The latest information from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) shows that the number of students applying to study Chinese at undergraduate level in 2006/07 has increased by nearly 60 per cent. to 788.
	
		
			  Number of students qualifying with a degree in Chinese—UK higher education institutions 
			  Academic year  Graduates 
			 1996/97 65 
			 1997/98 55 
			 1998/99 85 
			 1999/2000 70 
			 2000/01 100 
			 2001/02 100 
			 2002/03 165 
			 2003/04 190 
			 2004/05 200 
			  Notes:  1. In 2002/03 the methodology used to allocate students to subjects was changed, which means that the figures for 2002/03 and later years are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.  2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5.   Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Modern Apprenticeships

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people aged between 16 and 22 years have participated in a modern apprenticeship in each year since 2002; and at what cost.

Phil Hope: The apprenticeship programme continues to go from strength to strength with record numbers of young people participating and completion rates continuing to improve. Numbers of young people (aged 16-24) who have taken up an apprenticeship in England since 2002/03 are as follows:
	
		
			   Apprenticeship  Advanced apprenticeship  Total 
			 2002-03 24,336 18,618 42,954 
			 2003-04 43,110 9,174 52,284 
			 2004-05 45,125 8,912 54,037 
			 2005-06 (to period 10) 47,531 18,979 66,510 
			  Note:  Figures cannot be broken down into specific age groups but are for the whole of the apprenticeship cohort, from age 16 to 24 
		
	
	Apprenticeships in England are funded through the 'work based learning for young people' budget of the Learning and Skills Council. This budget covers apprenticeships, advanced apprenticeships, NVQ Learning and Entry to Employment. The following table details figures for work based learning for each year since 2002. All amounts are rounded to the nearest £1 million.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Work based learning (youth, 16-18)  Work based learning (adult, 19+)  Total 
			 2002-03 478 191 669 
			 2003-04 565 213 778 
			 2004-05 615 243 858 
			 2005-06 606 269 875

Music Qualifications

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many pupils took examinations in music technology at  (a) GCSE and  (b) A level in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many  (a) schools and  (b) colleges teach music technology at (i) GCSE and (ii) A level;
	(3)  which examination boards set curricula and examinations in music technology.

Jim Knight: 65 further education colleges and 231 schools entered students in A Level music technology in the academic year 2004/05. Figures for the number of students entered for A Level music technology in each of the last five years are shown in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Pupils entered in A Level music technology 
			   Number 
			 2000/01 1,033 
			 2001/02 1,320 
			 2002/03 1,754 
			 2003/04 2,220 
			 2004/05 2,367 
		
	
	There were no schools or further education colleges with entrants in GCSE music technology in any of the last five years.
	The examination boards which offer music technology qualifications currently on the National Qualifications Framework are:
	
		
			Music technology qualifications 
			 ABC Level 3 Diploma in Sound Design and Music Technology 
			 EDEXCEL Advanced GCE in Music Technology 
			 EDEXCEL Advanced subsidiary GCE in music technology  
			 EDEXCEL Level 3 BTEC National Award in Music Technology 
			 EDEXCEL Level 3 BTEC National Certificate in Music Technology 
			 EDEXCEL Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Music Technology 
			 EDEXCEL Level 5 BTEC Professional Diploma in Creative Music Technology 
			 NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Music Technology 
			 NCFE Intermediate Certificate in Music Technology (Mix DJ Skills)

Teachers

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applicants there were on average for each  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school teacher vacancy in (i) London and (ii) England in each of the past five years.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teenage Pregnancy

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the rate of teenage pregnancy was in  (a) England and  (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The following table provides under-18 conception rate data for England and East Riding for each year since the teenage pregnancy strategy began. Between 1998 and 2004, the under-18 conception rate in England has fallen by 11.1 per cent. East Riding has experienced a fall of 9.1 per cent. over the same period.
	
		
			   England under-18 conception rate  East Riding under-18 conception rate 
			 1998 46.6 34.7 
			 1999 44.8 30.0 
			 2000 43.6 30.8 
			 2001 42.5 29.9 
			 2002 42.6 29.7 
			 2003 42.1 29.1 
			 2004 41.5 31.5 
			  Note:  Conceptions per 1,000 females aged 15-17

Transport Allowances

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was to his Department of transport allowances in the last year for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: Details of travel expenditure incurred by the Department over the last financial year are set out as follows:
	2005/06: £6,197,029.01
	The expenditure does not include costs for domestic and foreign travel that may be charged to a programme account, expenditure incurred as a result of commission on foreign exchange or some miscellaneous travel expenses incurred by individual travellers during the course of the visit. These cannot be easily extracted within disproportionate cost.
	Since 1999 the Government have published, on an annual basis, the total costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500. This information is available in the Library. Information for the financial year 2004-05 was published on 21 July 2005,  Official Report, column 158WS. Information for the financial year 2005-06 is in the process of being collated and will be published shortly.
	All travel under taken by DfES Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the "Ministerial Code" and the "Civil Service Management Code".

Working Together

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2006,  Official Report, column 797W, on Working Together, if he will list the respondents who  (a) disagreed or strongly disagreed that the Government should attempt to set out a clearer policy for professionals including the health service and youth workers on when to share information with social services and the police to protect sexually active children from harm and abuse and  (b) disagreed that there was a case for information always being shared in some circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Nine respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed (and 90 agreed or strongly agreed) that the Government should attempt to set out a clearer policy for professionals including the health service and youth workers on when to share information with social services and the police to protect sexually active children from harm and abuse. Seven of those responded on behalf of or identified themselves as part of organisations, and those organisations are set out as follows. Two of those who responded to this question did so as individuals and did not identify themselves as part of an organisation. Their details have not been included because of Data Protection Act considerations.
	South Staffs Healthcare NHS Trust
	Portsmouth City council
	The British Medical Association
	The National Youth Agency and Youth Access
	Solihull Area Child Protection Committee
	Wiltshire county council
	Get Connected Helpline
	23 respondents disagreed (and 191 agreed) that there was a case for information always being shared in some circumstances. Of these, 20 responded on behalf of or identified themselves as part of organisations, and those organisations are set out as follows; three individuals also responded to this question.
	City and Hackney primary care trust
	Professional Association of Teachers
	Northamptonshire Area Child Protection Committee
	NHS
	Lincolnshire Tackling Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board
	Sheffield Area Child Protection Committee/Local Safeguarding Children Board/Children and Young People's Services
	London Metropolitan
	Reproductive Health Matters
	British Association for Sexual Health and HIV
	(African Women's Welfare Association) The Lost African Child Project
	Family Planning Association
	Doncaster Local Safeguarding Board
	Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust
	Greenwich Social Services
	Education Leeds
	The Children's Society
	Foster Care Associates
	Get Connected Helpline
	NHS Community Provider and Mental Health Trust
	British Association of Social Workers
	Effective information sharing is at the heart of good practice to safeguard children. The new "Working Together to Safeguard Children" provides the clear guidance on when and how to share information about underage sexual activity that Sir Michael Bichard's report recommended and which practitioners from all agencies have told us they want.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Election Ballot Papers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the merits of requiring voters to sign for receipt of their ballot paper.

Bridget Prentice: Signing for the receipt of ballot papers at polling stations is an additional security measure that will help to prevent and detect incidences of electoral fraud. It will aid the police with any investigation they may have to undertake post election.
	This measure was piloted at the May 4 2006 local elections, and the Electoral Commission are due to publish an evaluation report shortly.

Elections (Commonwealth Countries)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which Commonwealth countries allow all Commonwealth citizens to vote in their general elections.

Bridget Prentice: This information is not held centrally. In respect of the UK, the Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that all Commonwealth citizens who are lawfully resident here are entitled to vote in parliamentary and local elections. Decisions about the voting rights of Commonwealth, including British, citizens resident in other Commonwealth countries are for the individual countries concerned.

Electoral Register

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what steps she plans to take to maximise data-sharing in drawing up the electoral register;
	(2)  if she will place a duty on electoral registration officers to use all relevant available databases to compile the electoral register.

Bridget Prentice: The recent Electoral Administration Act 2006 requires electoral registration officers when drawing up the electoral register to make full use of their powers to use those records which they are permitted to access. They are currently able to inspect and take copies of any records kept by their own council, and to inspect and take copies of records kept by any registrar of births and deaths.
	My Department is also currently exploring whether there are other records not covered by existing powers, to which it might be appropriate to allow an electoral registration officer access.

Electoral Register

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of eligible voters not included on the electoral register;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of eligible voters who are not registered.

Bridget Prentice: I have not made an estimate. However, the Electoral Commission in its research report 'Understanding electoral registration' published in September 2005 found that in the region of 3.5 million people across England and Wales who were eligible to be registered were missing from the register in 2000.

Electoral Register

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what targets she plans to set for electoral registration officers to improve their electoral registers.

Bridget Prentice: I do not plan to set targets. However, we have made provision in the Electoral Administration Act for performance standards to be established. In future, the Electoral Commission will set standards for electoral administrators (including electoral registration officers) and require them to provide the Commission with returns and reports on their level of performance against the standards that have been set.

Electoral Register

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of registration levels among black African voters.

Bridget Prentice: I have not made an estimate. However, the Electoral Commission in its research report "Understanding electoral registration" published in September 2005 found that 37 per cent. of black Africans who were otherwise eligible were not registered.

Electoral Register

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research she has undertaken of voting registration in different types of housing tenure.

Bridget Prentice: I have not undertaken any such research. However, the Electoral Commission in its research report "Understanding electoral registration" published in September 2005 found that 3 per cent. of people who own their property outright are not registered, while 27 per cent. of people who rent from a private landlord or letting agency are not registered.

Environmental Standards

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether her Department  (a) is committed to the achievement of environmental management to ISO 14001 standard and  (b) has been externally certified as in compliance with that standard; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: My Department is fully committed to the achievement of EMS's to ISO 14001 standard. My Department is currently piloting two EMS's at our largest HQ building and at our largest Court complex, both are due to be certified (externally) later this year.

FIFA World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which matches  (a) the Secretary of State and  (b) other Ministers in her Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contribution from third party organisations.

Bridget Prentice: None.

Malignant Mesothelioma

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she has taken to facilitate compensation claims for malignant mesothelioma.

Bridget Prentice: The Government intend to bring forward an amendment to the Compensation Bill to provide that in mesothelioma cases, negligent persons should be jointly and severally liable, so that the claimant can recover full compensation from any relevant person.

New Electors

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will ensure that new electors are sent information about exercising their right to vote.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 provides for pre-polling information to be sent to all electors, informing them about their right to vote at any upcoming elections.
	The Act will also give electoral administrators a power to encourage participation in the electoral process. This could include, for example, campaigns to inform young electors about their right to vote.

Personal Injuries (Compensation)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the maximum levels of compensation in personal injuries cases were last reviewed; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: No maximum levels of compensation are prescribed for personal injury cases in general, and the amount of damages to be awarded in individual cases will depend upon the circumstances of that case. The level of general damages for pain and suffering was considered by the Court of Appeal in the case of Heil  v. Rankin in 2000. The Judicial Studies Board publishes guidelines for the judiciary on the assessment of general damages based on decided cases following Heil  v. Rankin. These do not cover any damages that may be awarded for other elements of the claim, such as loss of earnings.

Polling Stations (Guidance)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will provide guidance in polling stations in languages other than English.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 will give Returning Officers a power to make prescribed election documents, including guidance in polling stations, available in languages other than English.

Postal Votes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will make it an offence to make a false application for a postal vote.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 introduces a new offence of falsely applying for a postal vote. A person found guilty of this offence could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison, or face a fine, or both.

Postal Votes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will introduce a marked register of postal votes received.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 provides for a marked register of returned postal votes for future local and national elections. Our intention is that the secondary legislation setting out the detailed arrangements will be implemented in time for elections in 2007.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Carbon Neutrality

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his  (a) official residence,  (b) official car and  (c) official trips to foreign countries are carbon neutral.

John Prescott: Since 1 April this year, all flights taken by central Government Ministers and civil servants on official business are being carbon off-set under a scheme being operated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For information relating to the environmental performance of my official car, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Thursday 6 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1299W. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the guidance 'Travel by Ministers' and the Government's sustainable transport policy.
	Admiralty House forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office estate and is included in work currently being undertaken in partnership with the Carbon Trust to consider the improvement of energy management practices, identify likely areas for potential energy savings and provide the Cabinet Office with a systematic approach to managing the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.

Engagements

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which countries he plans to visit  (a) before the end of 2006 and  (b) in the first half of 2007; and if he will make a statement.

John Prescott: Since January this year I have visited a number of countries including Finland, the United States, Canada and China. I shall continue to undertake a range of international visits on behalf of my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister.

FIFA World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which matches he attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in his ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations.

John Prescott: None.

Ministerial Visits

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what date he decided to stay with Philip Anschutz at his Colorado ranch during his trip to the US in July 2005.

John Prescott: During the time the arrangements for the trip were being made.

Ministerial Visits

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what briefings were given to the civil servants in his party during his visit to the US in July 2005 relating to  (a) Mr. Philip Anschutz and  (b) his business.

John Prescott: None. Neither I nor the civil servants had any such briefings or private meetings during the trip.

Ministerial Visits

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what  (a) agendas and  (b) minutes were produced relating to his meetings with Philip Anschutz at his Colorado ranch in July 2005.

John Prescott: I did not have any meetings with Philip Anschutz during that trip. Officials were present during all informal conversations during my stay there.

Principal Private Secretary

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who the Principal Private Secretary is for his new office.

John Prescott: My Principal Private Secretary has not changed.

Special Advisers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who his special advisers are; what the salary grade of each is; and what the expertise is of each.

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 788-89W, on his ministerial office and staff, how many special advisers are employed in his private office, broken down by pay band; and what the expected annual cost of these advisers is for 2006-07.

John Prescott: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall costs of special advisers and the number in each pay band. Information for the current financial year will be published in the normal way.

PRIME MINISTER

Chequers (Entertainment)

Mark Francois: To ask the Prime Minister which guests have been entertained officially at Chequers since 25 June 2005.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 27 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 652-53W.

Deputy Prime Minister

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister on which occasions the Deputy Prime Minister has been acting Prime Minister in each year since 1997; what the dates were between which he so acted on each occasion; and for what reason in each case.

Tony Blair: The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State deputises for me as required across the range of my responsibilities at home and abroad.

Dorneywood

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Prime Minister who is occupying Dorneywood; and what plans he has to offer it to another Minister.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 8 June 2006,  Official Report, column 825W.

E-mail

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Prime Minister whether he personally uses an e-mail account in the course of his official duties.

Tony Blair: Yes.

Engagements

Kate Hoey: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit Northern Ireland.

Tony Blair: For security reasons, my future engagements are announced as and when appropriate.

FIFA World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister which matches he attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in his ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations.

Tony Blair: None.

Honours Lists

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what the procedures are for preparing honours lists; whom he consults prior to advising Her Majesty the Queen on the honours list; what guidance is published about nominating a person to receive an honour; if he will place in the Library a copy of such guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 23 March 2006,  Official Report, column 34WS.
	The procedures leading to the birthday and new year lists, and guidance for nominating potential recipients of honours, are set out on the Cabinet Office website (www.honours.gov.uk). The guidance and nomination forms are available in the Library of the House.

Ministerial Visits

Anne Main: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he last visited St. Albans on official business.

Tony Blair: I last visited St. Albans on official business on 15 November 2000.

Prime Minister's Question Time

Anne Main: To ask the Prime Minister whether  (a) he and  (b) his officials contact Labour Members who have been successful in the shuffle for Prime Minister's Question Time to ascertain the nature of their intended supplementary questions.

Tony Blair: No.

Special Advisers

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister which special advisers appointed since 1997 who have since left are  (a) employed elsewhere within Government,  (b) employed on contract to the Government and  (c) employed within organisations which lobby the Government; and what mechanisms exist for monitoring their compliance with regulations pertaining to a cooling-off period with respect to working on relevant portfolios in the private sector.

Tony Blair: "The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers" makes clear that the Business Appointment Rules, as set out in the "Civil Service Management Code", apply to special advisers for the first two years after leaving office. Applications which are referred to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments will be accounted for in the Committee's annual report. Information for 2005-06 will be provided shortly. The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

US-UK Extradition Treaty

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions and in what manner he has raised with the President of the United States the fact that the United States has not ratified the US-UK extradition treaty.

Tony Blair: It is not the practice of the Government to make public details of all discussions with foreign Governments.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact.

Kim Howells: The Afghanistan Compact, agreed at the London Conference on Afghanistan in January, established the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board as the mechanism to oversee progress in its implementation. The Board consists of 28 members and is co-chaired by the UN and the Islamic Government of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the findings were of the International Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan which took place between 26 and 28 June; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The International Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan reconfirmed the importance of the Paris Pact process in further strengthening border control and law enforcement co-operation between countries affected by the Afghan drugs trade. The conclusions highlighted the need for greater international support for counter narcotics work in Afghanistan; firm action to control the diversion of precursor chemicals; increased efforts to tackle drugs related money laundering and the importance of tackling demand. Conference participants also recognised the importance of increasing the exchange of intelligence between regional partners, including through the deployment of law enforcement experts to the new Central Asia Regional Information and Co-ordination Centre, due to be established in Kazakhstan.

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the National Drug Strategy for Afghanistan agreed at the London conference; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made today on Afghanistan: Counter Narcotics. This includes detail on progress made to date as well as the allocation of UK funding in support of the National Drug Control Strategy.

Arms Controls

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made on increasing the transparency and effectiveness of the UK's arms controls.

Kim Howells: The Government remain committed to ensuring that the United Kingdom's export control system is as rigorous and effective as any in the world. This commitment is clearly reflected in the Export Control Act (2002), which was the first major legislative development in this area since 1939. We are continuing to take up the challenge of implementing these comprehensive new controls, some in areas which bring in activities not previously subject to control. On greater transparency, we have introduced quarterly reports (which are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?page name=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Page cid=1089131553823, and provide detailed information on our export licensing decisions. The 2005 annual report on the UK's Strategic Export Controls will also be published in a new format later this month. These initiatives illustrate our commitment to maintain, and expand, the high standard of transparency and accountability in the area of export controls that we established with the launch of our first annual report in 1997.

Arms Trade Treaty

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made on establishing a new international treaty on the arms trade.

Kim Howells: The Government are fully committed to securing an international treaty on the trade in all conventional arms. Both my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have recently reiterated the UK's commitment to securing agreement to a UN based process at the United Nations General Assembly later this year. With a range of partners we intend to bring forward a resolution at the UN First Committee to this end. In advance of this we are continuing to build further support for the initiative.

British Satellite News

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) terms of reference,  (b) codes of practice and  (c) editorial guidance govern the relationship between British Satellite News and her Department.

Geoff Hoon: The contract to supply British Satellite News (BSN) was awarded following an open tender. A number of respected news organisations submitted bids for the contract. Contract requirements specifically called for the service to be credible, accurate, newsworthy and made to the highest standards of professional journalism. BSN has editorial independence. The decision on what to broadcast rests with its Chief Editor. Full details of the service to be provided are specified in the attached Statement of Service Requirements. This document will be placed in the Library of the House and I will arrange for a copy of the document to be sent to the hon. Member.

British Satellite News

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her estimate is of the cost of British Satellite News in each of the past six years.

Geoff Hoon: The British Satellite News (BSN) service is awarded after a public tender. The current contract started in 2005 and amounts to 1.5 million per year. Payments to BSN amounted to:
	2.2 million per year from financial years (FY) 2000-01 to 2002-03
	1.2 million in FY 2003-04 and 2004-05
	1.5 million in FY 2005-06.

Child Labour

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the use of child labour in  (a) China,  (b) Bangladesh,  (c) India,  (d) Pakistan and  (e) Zambia.

Ian McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold its own data on levels of child labour around the world. We draw on the expertise of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other relevant bodies for such information. On 4 May 2006, the ILO published a global report on child labour The End of Child Labour: Within Reach available on the ILO website at: www.ilo.org/dyn/declaris/DECLARATIONWEB.INDEXPAGE.
	ILO information for child labour levels in the countries specified includes the following figures:
	China: there is little hard statistical information on child labour trends, but the ILO's report assesses that child labour levels there are declining.
	Bangladesh: 4.7 million children working in 2002-0313.4 per cent. of all children aged five-14.
	India: the latest estimate we have of the level of child labour is 12.6 million. This figure is not from the ILO but taken from the last census carried out by the Registrar General of India in 2001.
	Pakistan: 3.3 million children were economically active in 19968.3 per cent. of all children ages 5-14.
	Zambia: 595,000 child workers, of whom 58 per cent. were 14 or younger (no date given).

China

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the merits of establishing representative missions in the People's Republic of China.

Ian McCartney: The United Kingdom currently has diplomatic representation in five Chinese cities to ensure the effective conduct of UK-China relations: in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Government keep the UK's diplomatic representation, including in China, under regular review.

Departmental Resource Accounts

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2006,  Official Report, column 298W, on departmental resource accounts, what the cost was of writing off the stockpile of out-of-date visa vignettes; and from which budget line the funds were found.

Kim Howells: The cost associated with writing off the stockpile of out-of-date visa vignettes in 2004-05 was 1.325 million. After UKvisas accepted 424,000 in compensation from the manufacturers for a proportion of the vignettes which were faulty, the net write-off was 901,000. This write-off was borne by UKvisas' stationery budget which is funded by visa application fees.

Departmental Staff

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the criteria are by which non-civil servants can be appointed to diplomatic postings; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Non-civil servants are eligible for appointment to Diplomatic Service or Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts when these are publicly advertised; and at the discretion of the Secretary of State under the Diplomatic Service Order in Council.

Ethical Foreign Policy

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on progress the Government are making in following an ethical foreign policy.

Ian McCartney: The promotion of human rights, good governance and democracy is one of the foundations of British foreign policy, forming part of the Strategic International Priorities, published as a Command Paper (Cm 6762) in March this year. Respect for these rights and values underpins the global security, stability and prosperity on which the UK's own well-being relies.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office produces an annual report on human rights. This report provides an overview of the main challenges to human rights around the world and explains the Government's activities, policies and progress made to address those challenges. The last such report was published on 21 July 2005 as a Command Paper (Cm 6606) and laid before Parliament. A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House. We aim to publish the next report in October 2006.

European Communities (Fraud)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) UK and  (b) foreign nationals have been convicted of fraud involving European Communities funds since May 1997.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold a record of UK and foreign nationals convicted of fraud involving European Communities funds since May 1997.

European Communities (Fraud)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials of the European Commission have been  (a) investigated for and  (b) convicted of fraud involving European Communities funds since May 1997.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold a record of European Commission officials investigated for and convicted of fraud involving European Communities funds since May 1997.

Former Yugoslavia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what operations are taking place to bring the former Bosnian Serb leaders Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic to justice.

Geoff Hoon: The Government strongly supports the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and full co-operation with the ICTY is a condition of progress towards membership of the EU for Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The EU and NATO military missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are also mandated to support ICTY's work. It would not be sensible to comment on operational matters.

Human Rights

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her answer of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 352-53W, to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague), on human rights, what the Government's position is on the establishing of a commission of inquiry to investigate possible human rights violations that transcend national borders.

Kim Howells: As we have found no evidence of detainees being rendered through UK territory or airspace where there were substantial grounds to believe there was a real risk of torture, we do not see the case for such an inquiry. My right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Jack Straw) set out in his Written Ministerial Statement of 20 January 2006,  Official Report, columns 37-38WS, the results of the extensive review of official records back to May 1997. We have also fully co-operated with international inquiries on this matter; the Government's replies to the Council of Europe Secretary General's requests for information are available in the Library of the House.

Israel/Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the likelihood of extended Israeli military action in the West Bank following the military incursions into Gaza which commenced on 27 June 2006; and what representations she is making on the issue.

Kim Howells: We are not aware of any plans for extended military action in the West Bank by Israel. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 6 July and made clear her concern that military action was not extended into the West Bank. Our embassy in Tel Aviv and officials in London continue to engage with Israel on the issue.
	We continue to urge both parties to act with restraint and end the current violence, which only makes the prospect of a negotiated, peaceful resolution more distant.
	We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Corporal Shalit, and for the Palestinian Authority to prevent all acts of terrorism against Israel. We urge the Israeli military to do everything in its power to avoid civilian casualties, and abide by international law. All military action should abide by the principle of proportionality.

Israel/Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information she has received regarding the possible use by Israel of military aircraft containing head-up display units made in the UK during airstrikes into Gaza since the start of May.

Kim Howells: We have no reports that UK supplied equipment has been deployed during the recent air strikes in Gaza. We continue to monitor developments in the region closely.

Israel/Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 1158-9W, on Israel, whether any information has come to light that military equipment or components supplied by the UK have been used in a manner inconsistent with the consolidated criteria during the military incursions by Israel into Gaza; what methods are used for such monitoring; what proactive steps the British Embassy in Tel Aviv has taken in relation to monitoring since 27 June; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have no reports that UK supplied equipment is being deployed by Israel in Gaza in a manner which is inconsistent with the consolidated criteria.
	Relevant information from the media, civil society, our diplomatic missions and other relevant sources all form part of our monitoring of the situation in the region. Any information that UK-supplied military equipment may have been used in a manner inconsistent with our consolidated criteria is always taken fully into account when assessing any future export licence applications.

Middle East

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries in the  (a) Middle East and  (b) Gulf region the UK engages in annual bilateral dialogue on security issues; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not yet engage in annual bilateral dialogues on security issues with Gulf or Middle East countries. We participate in multilateral meetings including the International Institute of Strategic Studies Gulf Dialogue, attended by Cabinet level delegations in 2004 and 2005.
	The Ministry of Defence engages in regular defence staff talks with the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Israel. The talks cover a number of issues including regional security.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the reports by the  (a) United States ambassador to Nepal and  (b) United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that the Maoist rebels are breaking the ceasefire with the Government.

Kim Howells: During the current ceasefire the Maoists have continued to carry out acts of extortion, abductions and killings as reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
	These acts of violence are a clear breach of the Code of Conduct to which the governing Seven Party Alliance and Maoists agreed to govern the ceasefire, and prepare the way for free and fair elections to a Constituent Assembly.
	We believe that a third party, such as the United Nations, is needed to monitor the implementation of the Code of Conduct and to support the work of the Nepalese ceasefire monitoring committeewhose terms of reference have been agreed by both the Maoists and the Government.

Non-EU Foreign Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her estimate is of the number of applications from non-EU foreign students for entry to the United Kingdom to study on a non-degree course in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Kim Howells: UKvisas made assessments in March 2006 of the lowest likely demand, the highest likely demand and a best estimate of the level of demand in 2006-07, based on the provisional data for the previous financial year. We do not make separate forecasts for degree and non-degree students or for EU and non-EU students.
	Using a provisional figure of 281,494 student applications in 2005-06, our low forecast estimates no growth in demand and our assessment of the highest likely demand would be an increase of 10 per cent. resulting in a total of 309,643 student visa applications this financial year. Our best prediction would be a 5 per cent. increase or 295,569 applications for student visas. We currently do not have a forecast for student demand for 2007-08.
	We remain committed to supporting my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Initiative on International Students to encourage increasing numbers of students from other countries to study in the United Kingdom and will be using marketing to encourage genuine students to apply for visas.

Overseas Territories

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution is being made by each governor to talks on the constitutional development of the UK's overseas territories.

Geoff Hoon: The governor of each overseas territory, as Her Majesty the Queen's representative in the territory, has been providing advice in those territories where constitutional reviews are or have been taking place with a view to promoting the successful conclusion of these talks.

Somalia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the UK has had with the new Islamist leaders of Somalia; and whether there are plans to send UN peacekeepers to the region.

Ian McCartney: We have received copies of letters sent by the Islamic Courts Union to the international community and officials have met representatives of the Islamic Courts Union informally. There are no plans to send UN peacekeepers to the region, but the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development have drawn up plans for a Peace Support Operation in Somalia.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the National Redemption Front in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the National Redemption Front (NRF) since it was formed in Asmara on 30 June 2006. However, Ministers and officials have met leaders of the NRF on various occasions in the past, including at the Darfur peace talks in Abuja.
	I am disappointed by the NRF's rejection of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). The Government believe the DPA is a good deal for the people of Darfur and we fully support it. I call on all sides to abide by the agreement and to implement it urgently.

Trade Sanctions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which countries the Government have applied trade sanctions since May 1997.

Kim Howells: Since May 1997, sanctions with an element of restriction on trade, including the trade in arms, have been applied by the Government in relation to Afghanistan, Angola (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burma, China, Cote d'lvoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/Serbia, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Libya, Rwanda (including Burundi, the DRC, Tanzania and Uganda in certain circumstances where arms are destined for Rwanda), Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe.
	The UK also operates a number of destination specific control regimes which apply to certain exports of defence equipment and/or certain dual-use goods. The full list of current sanctions regimes and countries subject to destination specific control regimes can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at: www.fco.gov.uk/sanctions.

Trade Sanctions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have been discussed as candidates for trade sanctions in international fora since May 1997; and what the Government's position was in each case.

Kim Howells: Details of all the countries which have been discussed as candidates for trade sanctions in international fora since May 1997 and the Government's position in each case could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

UK Agencies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2006,  Official Report, column 672W, on UK agencies, to which  (a) European Community and (b) UK agencies she refers; and what the mission statements are of the former.

Geoff Hoon: As the information requested is lengthy, I will arrange for it to be placed in the Library of the House and will also arrange for a copy to be sent directly to the hon. Member.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has she made of the impact of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Ian McCartney: Whilst the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the most widely ratified of all the core human rights conventions, implementation remains varied. It is essential that states parties have the necessary legal framework in place to be able to implement the convention effectively.
	The UK continues to promote further signature, ratification and implementation of the CRC and its optional protocols, both through bilateral contacts and through multilateral channels such as the EU's dialogues with other countries. We also continue to support the work of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in this regard. This includes OHCHR's work to support and make as effective as possible the treaty monitoring body that examines states' compliance with the CRC.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to the United Nations on encouraging more developing countries to sign up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Ian McCartney: The UK continues to promote further signature and ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its optional protocols. We fully support the efforts of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and of her Office, to encourage states to sign, ratify and implement the UNCRC and its optional protocols. The UNCRC is the most widely ratified of all the core human rights conventions. Somalia is the only developing state that has not yet ratified the convention itself.

US-UK Diplomatic Relations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions HM Ambassador to the USA has written to members of the Senate making representations that the Senate ratify the US-UK extradition treaty.

Ian McCartney: Our Ambassador in Washington has raised the Extradition Treaty with members of the Senate on several occasions, including in writing.

US-UK Diplomatic Relations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK diplomats based in Washington DC have specific responsibility for relations with Congress; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Several officials in our Embassy in Washington deal with Congress on a regular basis.

US-UK Diplomatic Relations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions her Department has raised with the US ambassador in London  (a) in writing and  (b) at a formal meeting the fact that the US Senate has not ratified the US-UK extradition treaty; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the Extradition Treaty with the US ambassador last month, and raised the issue during her visit to the US this month, including with Senator Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

US-UK Diplomatic Relations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions members of the UK Mission to the USA have formally raised with members of the US Senate the fact that the Senate has not ratified the US-UK extradition treaty with whom; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Staff from our embassy in Washington have raised the matter with members of the Senate and Administration on numerous occasions.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Scheme

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled staff in his Department received support through the Access to Work scheme  (a) in each of the last five years and  (b) in 2006-07.

Anne McGuire: Up to March 2003, any DWP employee requiring equipment and adaptation support would have received the necessary support, and costs would have been attributed to the national Access to Work budget. Jobcentre Plus Access to Work did not collect the numbers of departmental disabled staff accessing adaptations and equipment support.
	Currently any DWP employee requiring equipment and adaptation support receives the necessary support but costs are now attributed to individual local budgets. Prior to the introduction of our new Resource Management System we are collecting clerical statistical data on numbers of reasonable adjustments undertaken each quarter. The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Reasonable adjustments undertaken 
			  Quarter ending  Number 
			 August 2005 492 
			 December 2005 545 
			 March 2006 321

Carpets International Pension Scheme

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether members of the Carpets International pension scheme are eligible for assistance through the financial assistance scheme.

James Purnell: The Carpets International pension scheme is a successfully qualified pension scheme for the financial assistance scheme. All members of this scheme, who were within 15 years of their scheme's normal retirement age, or above, on 14 May 2004, will be considered for eligibility for assistance through the financial assistance scheme.
	The trustees have applied for initial payments and we are currently awaiting member data to enable us to start paying eligible members.

Carpets International Pension Scheme

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that members of the Carpets International pension scheme receive their full pension entitlements.

James Purnell: The Carpets International pension scheme has successfully qualified for the Financial Assistance Scheme. The trustees have applied for initial payments and we are currently awaiting member data to enable us to start paying eligible members.
	While the Financial Assistance Scheme does not provide eligible members with their full pension entitlement, it can provide significant assistance to members of qualifying pension schemes. On 25 May 2006, as part of the white paper, Security in Retirement: towards a new pension system, the Government announced that they will extend eligibility for the Financial Assistance Scheme to members of qualifying pension schemes who were within 15 years of their scheme's normal retirement age on 14 May 2004.
	Those within seven years of their scheme's normal retirement age on 14 May 2004 will benefit from the Financial Assistance Scheme topping up their pensions to around 80 per cent. of their expected core pension. Those between seven and 15 years from their scheme's normal retirement age who can more reasonably be expected to supplement their retirement income will be considered for a top-up to around 65 per cent. of their expected pension if they are between seven and 11 years from scheme pension age, and 50 per cent. between 12 and 15 years.

Child Support Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days training were provided to staff at the Child Support Agency in each year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Hilary Reynolds:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is out of the country, I am replying on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many days training were provided to staff at the Child Support Agency in each year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
	The Child Support Agency has provided a range of training during the last five years for which figures are available covering technical, management, generic skills and information technology. The specific details are broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Training days  Number of people trained 
			 2001-02 108,515 n/a 
			 2002-03 133,199 13,143 
			 2003-04 78,629 11,366 
			 2004-05 67,687 11,376 
			 2005-06 59,103 4,995 
		
	
	The decrease in training provided in 2005-06 was caused by a number of factors including awaiting the agreement of the Operational Implementation Plan, which has led to a new training programme for managers and other employees of the Child Support Agency. We have also seen a move towards blended learning and the use of e-learning with less emphasis on classroom training.
	Following the announcement of the Operational Improvement Plan a full and comprehensive training programme has been developed. This includes a full training programme for Team Leaders, focusing on technical training, management skills and client outcomes. This will enable team leaders to effectively coach and mentor people leading to increased productivity and better client outcomes. In addition, we are currently developing training to support the movement of people to compliance work, as specified in the Operational Improvement Plan, so enabling the Agency to deliver the associate business benefits.
	More detailed plans are still being finalised but the training will be for both new entrants and to support existing employees who may take on a different role on implementation of the new organisational design.

Child Support Agency

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what deadline was imposed for meetings between officials on the Child Support Agency redesign team and individuals or organisations from outside his Department.

James Plaskitt: The consultation period for Sir David Henshaw's redesign ended on 19 May 2006.
	Following this deadline, Sir David and his team have tried to meet with individuals and organisations wherever possible.

Departmental Papers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list in date order the  (a) Green and  (b) White papers produced by his Department since October 2005.

Anne McGuire: 'Green' and 'White' papers are not defined terms. 12 papers were published by the Department of Work and Pensions within the Command Papers series since October 2005. These are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Command number  Title  Publication date 
			 6669 The Social Security (Work Focused Interviews) Amendment Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/2727) 10 October 2005 
			 6666 International Labour Conference 12 October 2005 
			 6673 Opportunity For All-7th Annual Report 17 October 2005 
			 6645 Vinyl Chloride Monomer-Related Diseases 17 November 2005 
			 6715 Autumn Performance Report 15 December 2005 
			 6730 A New Deal For Welfare: Empowering People To Work 24 January 2006 
			 6732 Report By Government Actuary On Drafts Of The Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 2006 And The Social Security (Contributions) (Re-Rating And National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2006 26 January 2006 
			 6758 Occupational And Personal Pension Schemes: Review Of Certain Contracting-Out Terms 15 March 2006 
			 6829 Departmental Report 11 May 2006 
			 6841 Security In Retirement Towards A New Pension System 25 May 2006 
			 6859 A New Deal For Welfare: Empowering People To Work. Consultation Report 19 June 2006 
			 6861 Third Report Of The Work And Pensions Select Committee Session 2005-06 On Incapacity Benefits And Pathways To Work 19 June 2006

FIFA World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which matches  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations.

Anne McGuire: Neither the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions nor any of his Ministers attended any matches at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity.

Financial Assistance Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a pension scheme needs to be closed before payments can be made under the financial assistance scheme.

James Purnell: No, we can make discretionary initial financial assistance scheme payments before a qualifying pension scheme's wind up is completed. The pension scheme's trustees need to apply for initial payments in writing. In most cases information on the full scale of an individual's loss is not available until a scheme is close to completing wind up. Until such information is available we are unable to assess a qualifying member's exact level of assistancetheir 'annual' payment.
	However, and particularly as completing wind up can take a number of years, initial payments enable us to start paying some money at a lower rate, to qualifying members or their survivors who become entitled to assistance before their scheme has completed winding up.

Incapacity Benefit

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people claimed incapacity benefit in West Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants, in the Lancashire West parliamentary constituency, by age: each November 1997 to 2005 
			   Under 20 years of age  20-24 years of age 
			 1997 100 270 
			 1998 100 170 
			 1999 100 200 
			 2000 80 200 
			 2001 80 190 
			 2002 70 190 
			 2003 80 170 
			 2004 80 180 
			 2005 70 180 
			  Notes: 1. The figures for 1997 and 1998 have been produced using the five per cent. data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. totals. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Claimant figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance, including IB credits only cases.  Source: DWP Information Directorate, five per cent. samples from 1997 to 1998 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data thereafter.

Incapacity Benefit

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on his target to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefit by one million by 2016.

Anne McGuire: We have received a number of representations on this subject, including parliamentary questions from hon. Members and responses received during the Green Paper consultation period. The Green Paper sets out our aspiration to see one million fewer people on incapacity benefits, over the course of a decade, through the combined efforts of the Government, employers, local authorities and health professionals.
	We have said that we will set out, by the end of the year, the basis by which the aspiration of one million fewer people on incapacity benefits will be measured and the progress we will need to make over the next Spending Review period.

Mesothelioma

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have died from mesothelioma in each health authority in England in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: Data on mesothelioma deaths are not readily available by health authority. I have placed in the Library a table with data that represent mesothelioma deaths for local and unitary authorities in England for the years 1997 to 2003, the latest year for which data are currently available.

Mr. Bill McGraf

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Mr. Bill McGraf, now deceased, a constituent of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead who lived in Well Lane Flats, Birkenhead, was in receipt of carer's allowance.

Anne McGuire: The administration of carer's allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. As details about individual cases are confidential, he will contact you privately about the matter.
	 Letter from Vivien Hopkins, dated 13 July 2006:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the late Mr McGrath, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is currently unavailable, I am responding on his behalf.
	As details about individual cases are confidential I have written to you separately about this case.

Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2006,  Official Report, column 964W, on ministerial visits (overnight stays), how he ensures the  (a) cost effectiveness and  (b) appropriateness of overnight stays by (i) Ministers, (ii) civil servants and (iii) special advisers.

Anne McGuire: Under the terms of the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, when travelling on official business Ministers are expected to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.
	The same principles apply to civil servants and special advisers. Civil servants will adhere to the civil service code, and other departmental guides, ensuring value for money.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list those occasions when the recommendations of a report from the parliamentary ombudsman were  (a) rejected and  (b) partly rejected by his Department since 1997.

James Purnell: On only one occasion since 1997 has the Department, its Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies rejected the recommendations of a report from the parliamentary ombudsman. This occurred in the case of her report Trusting in the pensions promise published in March this year.

Pathways Areas (Blind/Partially Sighted People)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many blind and partially sighted people have been assisted into work in Pathways areas in each year since their introduction.

Anne McGuire: Many customers categorised as 'blind or having low vision' would not be expected to participate in the mandatory Pathways process under current exemption rules. However, 11 customers categorised as being 'blind or having low vision' have been helped into work by Pathways to Work.
	The data on medical condition for Pathways to Work participants is incomplete. The reason for this is that it is drawn from incapacity benefit data that appears in the National Benefits Database. This impacts on the completeness of Pathways medical condition data in two ways;
	1. the National Benefits Database lags behind other Pathways Evaluation Database sources by some three to four months, and;
	2. the incapacity Benefit data is based on a six-weekly snapshot, which means that some short-term claims of less than six weeks never appear. For this reason it is important that these figures should only be taken as an indication of Pathways activity for people who are blind or have low vision.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures cannot be broken down annually as totals would be less than 10 leading to a potential breach of data protection guidelines.
	2. Data is to October 2005.
	 Source:
	Pathways to Work Evaluation Database.

Pension Credit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in each electoral ward in Yeovil constituency receive pension credit.

James Purnell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1600W.

Pension Forecasts

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual cost of issuing pension forecasts.

James Purnell: The cost of administering and issuing pension forecasts during the year to March 2005 has been estimated at 15.3 million. This figure is an approximate assessment only.
	The Department is currently refining its unit cost information in order to provide more robust and detailed financial analysis of the processing activities for which it is responsible. We are introducing a new resource management system this year and it will deliver more robust estimates in the future.

Pensioners (Carers Allowance)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will grant pensioners who act as carers at home an allowance in addition to the state pension; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: Depending on their circumstances, all pensioners may be entitled to extra help from social security benefits on top of their state pension.
	We have already changed the rules so that carers aged 65 or over can claim carer's allowance. State pension and carer's allowance are both income maintenance benefits. They are not payable at the same time because this would involve duplicate provision from public funds. However, where state pension is payable at less than the rate of carer's allowance, an amount of carer's allowance can be paid to make up the difference.
	Lower income pensioners may receive pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit in addition to their state pension. As long as someone has an underlying entitlement to carer's allowance, whether it is overlapped by state pension in full or in part, they may receive up to 26.35 a week extra from these benefits. More than 181,000 carers who receive pension credit are gaining from this provision.
	There are no current plans to introduce any additional allowance in respect of pensioners who are also carers, or to change the policy on overlapping benefits in respect of carer's allowance and state pension.

Roxby Pension Scheme

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to ensure that members of the Roxby pension scheme receive their full pension entitlement.

James Purnell: The Roxby pension scheme has been determined as a qualifying scheme for the financial assistance scheme. The trustees have applied for initial payments and we are currently awaiting member data to enable us to start making initial payments to eligible members.
	While the financial assistance scheme does not provide eligible members with their full pension entitlement, it can provide significant assistance to members of qualifying pension schemes. On 25 May 2006 as part of the White Paper, Security in Retirement: towards a new pension system, the Government announced that it will extend eligibility for the financial assistance scheme to members of qualifying pension schemes who were within 15 years of their scheme's normal retirement age on 14 May 2004.
	Those within seven years of their scheme's normal retirement age on 14 May 2004 will benefit from the financial assistance scheme topping up their pensions to around 80 per cent. of their expected core pension. Those between seven and 15 years from their scheme's normal retirement age, who can more reasonably be expected to supplement their retirement income, will be considered for a top-up to around 65 per cent. of their expected pension if they are between seven and 11 years from scheme pension age, and 50 per cent. between 12 and 15 years.

State Pension

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual cost to 2012 of restoring the earnings link for the basic state pension.

James Purnell: Our objective is to re-link the uprating of the basic state pension to earnings from 2012 or by the end of the next Parliament at the latest. A statement on the precise date will be made at the beginning of the next Parliament. The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			   Gross cost  Net cost 
			 2007-08 1.0 0.6 
			 2008-09 1.9 1.2 
			 2009-10 2.9 1.8 
			 2010-11 4.0 2.4 
			 2011-12 5.1 3.1 
			 2012-13 6.2 3.8 
			  Notes: 1. All figures are: based on earnings uprating from April 2007; in 2006-07 prices; in  billion; rounded to the nearest 100 million; and for all UK and overseas pensioners; this is consistent with the presentation in the White Paper. 2. The net figures include the savings made from reduced income-related benefit expenditure and assume the guarantee element of pension credit is uprated in line with earnings; it does not include any increase in income tax revenues. The income-related benefit offsets are consistent with those in the White Paper. 3. These figures do not include any of the other policy changes included in the White Paper such as improved coverage of the basic state pension.

State Pension

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of raising to a full pension the pension entitlement of all women with over 30 years' but fewer than 39 years' contributions.

James Purnell: The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list his Department's  (a) advisory bodies and  (b) committees concerned with animal health and welfare; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: The Home Office has one advisory body concerned with animal health and welfare, the Animal Procedures Committee. The role of the Animal Procedures Committee is to advise the Home Secretary on matters concerned with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and his functions under it. In doing so, the Committee is required to have regard to the legitimate requirements of science and industry and to the protection of animals against avoidable suffering and unnecessary use in scientific procedures. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has lead responsibility for other aspects of animal health and welfare.

Antisocial Behaviour

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 there have been for  (a) noise,  (b) graffiti and fly-posting and  (c) waste and litter in (i) each local authority and (ii) each police authority, broken down by basic command unit, in each region of England and Wales in each year since the introduction of the powers.

Tony McNulty: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform showing the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for selected offences related to antisocial behaviour are provided in the table A.
	Noise is often one of the symptoms of other antisocial behaviour and anecdotal evidence suggests that a variety of other tools, such as warnings, ASBOs, ABCs, parenting contracts and demotion of tenancy are used to tackle perpetrators' antisocial behaviour rather than a noise prosecution. It is not possible to ascertain the number of individual graffiti and fly-posting prosecutions because graffiti is recorded as criminal damage and fly-posting is recorded as an illegal display of advertisements. The penalty notice for disorder scheme was brought into effect in all police forces in England and Wales during 2004. Under the scheme the police are able to issue persons committing specified minor offences with a fixed penalty notice, including the offence of littering, which was added to the scheme on one November 2004.
	No admission of guilt is required and payment of the penalty discharges all liability for the offence. Data showing the number of penalty notices for disorder issued in 2004 for the offence of littering broken down by police force area, as well as provisional data for 2005, is provided in table B. Data on prosecutions for 2005 will be available in the autumn .
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for selected offences related to antisocial behaviour, by police force area, England and Wales, 2003 and 2004( 1) 
			   Contravening conditions of a waste management licence( 2)  Depositing litter( 3)  Noise exceeds permitted level after service of notice and other summary offences( 4) 
			  Police force area  2003  2004  2003  2004  2003  2004 
			 Avon and Somerset 2 1 5 4   
			 Bedfordshire 6 3 2 4   
			 Cambridgeshire   5 1   
			 Cheshire 4 2 2 4   
			 Cleveland 4 3 8 4   
			 Cumbria 5 8 32 39   
			 Derbyshire 3 7 1 5   
			 Devon and Cornwall 3 2 9 25   
			 Dorset 1  2
			 Durham   4 5   
			 Essex 6 2 9 28  1 
			 Gloucestershire 2  1 3   
			 Greater Manchester 11 15 17 129   
			 Hampshire 2 3 18 15  2 
			 Hertfordshire 14 15 6 16   
			 Humberside 4 5 4 3   
			 Kent 3 4 6 12   
			 Lancashire 5 4 11 13   
			 Leicestershire  2 18 20   
			 Lincolnshire 1 1 1 2   
			 Merseyside 2 1 6 59   
			 Metropolitan Police 54 122 107 174   
			 Norfolk  1 5 4   
			 North Yorkshire 4 2 5 9   
			 Northamptonshire 2  2 1   
			 Northumbria  1 69 90   
			 Nottinghamshire 9 13 7 10   
			 South Yorkshire 4 5 26 43   
			 Staffordshire  1 5 10   
			 Suffolk   5 2   
			 Surrey 8 4 2 3   
			 Sussex 1 3 2 2   
			 Thames Valley 6 6 5 1   
			 Warwickshire 3 2 2 2   
			 West Mercia 12 9 10 14   
			 West Midlands 8 16 21 20   
			 West Yorkshire 10 40 10 49   
			 Wiltshire 3 8 4 1   
			 Dyfed-Powys 7 11 5 2   
			 Gwent 5 8 26 34   
			 North Wales 18 18 3 7   
			 South Wales 49 41 63 39   
			 England and Wales 281 389 551 908  3 
			 (1 )These data are provided on the principal offence basis.  (2) Offence under Environmental Protection Act 1990Sec.33(6)  (3) Offence under Environmental Protection Act 1990 S.87  (4) Offence under Noise Act 1996   Source:  RDSOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Child Prostitutes

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people operating child prostitutes have been  (a) charged,  (b) convicted and  (c) deported in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The number of defendants proceeded against in magistrates in England and Wales under Sections 25, 26 and 28 of the 1956 Sexual Offences Act and Sections 10,14 ,48 and 49 of the 2003 Sexual Offences Act are as follows: The sudden rise in convictions for 2004, is explained by the increase in cases being prosecuted under the new Sexual Offences Act 2003, which came into force on 1 May, 2004.
	
		
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2000 0 0 
			 2001 2 1 
			 2002 3 0 
			 2003 0 0 
			 2004 55 15 
			  Note: No figures are available as to the nationality or immigration status of the defendants .

Colombia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what duties are being carried out by officers of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency in Colombia;
	(2)  how many  (a) UK police officers and  (b) officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Agency are based in Colombia; and what plans he has to change the number of officers in Colombia;
	(3)  with which  (a) law enforcement and  (b) police agencies officers of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency will work in Colombia.

Tony McNulty: I cannot comment on the operational deployment of police officers or SOCA staff.

Correspondence

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to provide a substantive response to the letter from the hon. Member for Sunderland, South of 24 March 2006 regarding Mr. Leonard Monteba Kasongo (CTS 11017/6).

Liam Byrne: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State wrote to my hon. Friend on 24 April 2006 and 6 June 2006. It is expected that a substantive response to these representations will be provided by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate within the next few weeks.

Departmental Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The most recent estimate of the carbon emissions of the Home Office was the figure reported within the Sustainable Development in Government Report published by the Sustainable Development Commission on 16 December 2005. During the period 2004-05, the Home Office achieved an 11 per cent. reduction in total energy per m(2) since the baseline year. The Department is committed to meet its targets under the framework including those recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Deportations

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any convicted person suspected of being a member of the 'Yardies' has been released from detention without deportation.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 3 May 2006
	It is not our policy to discuss specific details of any individual cases in the public domain.

Detection Rates

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what police detection rates have been of crimes committed by  (a) adults,  (b) young offenders and  (c) juveniles, in each of the last nine years for which figures are available, broken down by offence.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not collected centrally since the recorded crime statistics do not contain information about the offender.

Diversity Champion

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 17 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1035W, on the diversity champion, if he will break down the 900,000 planned expenditure by main budget heading; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 25 May 2006
	Of the 900,000 planned expenditure, 620,000 covers staff costs and 280,000 covers non-pay running costs. This includes training and development for Home Office staff to meet our statutory obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and forthcoming equality legislation, the publication costs for our equality schemes and the running costs of the Race and Diversity Action Team.

Driving Offences (Mobile Phones)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been mounted against those accused of using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving in each year the law has been in operation, broken down by police authority; and how many of those prosecutions were successful.

Tony McNulty: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for the years 2003-04 (latest available) is given in the table. 2005 data will be available early in 2007.
	
		
			  Proceedings and findings of guilt at magistrates courts for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving( 1)  by police force area, England and Wales, 2003-04 
			  Number of offences 
			   2003  2004 
			  Police force area  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt  Total proceedings  Total findings of guilt 
			 Avon and Somerset   19 19 
			 Bedfordshire 1 1 5 5 
			 Cambridgeshire   7 6 
			 Cheshire   2 1 
			 Cleveland   4 3 
			 Cumbria   24 24 
			 Derbyshire   17 16 
			 Devon and Cornwall   19 17 
			 Dorset 
			 Durham   1 1 
			 Essex   28 25 
			 Gloucestershire   1 1 
			 Greater Manchester   73 65 
			 Hampshire   18 15 
			 Hertfordshire   6 6 
			 Humberside   4 4 
			 Kent 
			 Lancashire   17 16 
			 Leicestershire   12 9 
			 Lincolnshire   9 5 
			 London, City of   7 5 
			 Merseyside   22 20 
			 Metropolitan police   203 124 
			 Norfolk   20 15 
			 Northamptonshire 
			 Northumbria   32 29 
			 North Yorkshire   18 18 
			 Nottinghamshire   8 7 
			 South Yorkshire   12 12 
			 Staffordshire   11 10 
			 Suffolk   7 4 
			 Surrey   9 7 
			 Sussex   1 1 
			 Thames Valley   24 21 
			 Warwickshire   7 7 
			 West Mercia   17 15 
			 West Midlands   61 52 
			 West Yorkshire   11 9 
			 Wiltshire   21 19 
			 Dyfed Powys   13 13 
			 Gwent 
			 North Wales   3 3 
			 South Wales   16 12 
			  
			 England and Wales 1 1 789 641 
			 (1) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2) and 110 (3). Introduced 1 December 2003.   Source:  Court Proceedings Database.

Driving Offences (Mobile Phones)

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for using a handheld mobile phone while driving since the offence was introduced.

Tony McNulty: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for the years 2003-04 (latest available) is given in the table. 2005 data will be available early in 2007.
	
		
			  Proceedings at magistrates courts for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving( 1 ) England and Wales, 2003-04 
			   Number of offences 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 789 
			 (1)Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 110(1), 110 (2) and 110 (3). Introduced 1 December 2003.   Source:  Court Proceedings Database.

Drunk and Disorderly Fines

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 80 fines for being drunk and disorderly were collected in each of the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: Provisional data held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform shows that in 2005, 36,309 Penalty Notices for Disorder were issued for being drunk and disorderly in England and Wales. In 20,463 of these cases the penalty was paid, with a further 14,161 unpaid tickets registered as fines for collection or enforcement by the courts. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Feltham Young Offender Institution

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a report of the Prison Service's investigations into the receipt by the Governor of Feltham Young Offender Institution of business class ticket upgrades from British Airways.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No investigation has been commissioned. The Governor's upgrade to Business Class for an outward flight to Australia was unsolicited and did not require declaration.

Feltham Young Offender Institution

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a report of the Prison Service's investigations into the Governor of Feltham Young Offender Institution's conduct towards a fellow officer of governor grade.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is not Prison Service Policy to publish any internal investigation or inquiry report. Such reports are confidential, covered by the data Protection Act 1998.

Feltham Young Offender Institution

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the security lapses that led to the recent escape attempt from Feltham Young Offender Institution; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Governor of Feltham commissioned a disciplinary Investigation into the attempted escape. The final report has just been received back, and the Governor is currently considering what action to take, but will be accepting a number of recommendations including holding a disciplinary hearing.

Fixed Penalty Notices

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices were issued for  (a) consumption of alcohol and  (b) selling alcohol to under-age people in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Hertfordshire and (vi) Norfolk in each year since the penalty force for the disorder scheme came into use.

Vernon Coaker: The offences of sale to, and consumption of alcohol by, under 18s were added to the penalty notice for disorder scheme on one November 2004. Data from the penalty notices for disorder database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform showing the number of penalty notices issued for  (a) consumption of alcohol by, and  (b) selling alcohol to, under-age people in the requested police force areas in November and December 2004, as well as provisional data for 2005, are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder issued in 2004 and provisional data for 2005 for sale and consumption of alcohol by under 18s in selected police force areas( 1) 
			   DA07sale of alcohol to a person under 18  DB09consumption of alcohol by person under 18 on licensed premises 
			  Police force area  2004 (November to December)  2005 (provisional)  2004 (November to December)  2005 (provisional) 
			 Bedfordshire  2   
			 Cambridgeshire  11  1 
			 Essex 7 117  1 
			 Hertfordshire  3   
			 Norfolk 
			 Suffolk  15   
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

GovNet Expo 2006

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is to his Department of supporting GovNet Expo 2006.

Liam Byrne: The Department is not directly supporting the GovNet Expo 2006. However we have taken up an exhibitors stand at the event to publicise our work on encouraging the involvement of the third sector in delivering services to the public. The cost of the stand is 8,225.

Hunting

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost to police forces maintaining public order at hunt meetings was  (a) before and  (b) since the Hunting Act 2004 was introduced; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Hunting

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training has been provided to police on the enforcement of the Hunting Act 2004.

Tony McNulty: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has issued specific guidance to forces and provided a training package covering strategic and tactical considerations in relation to the enforcement of the Hunting Act 2004. Furthermore, the initial police learning and development programme (IPLDP) provides all forces in England and Wales with the flexibility to tailor their individual training packages for new police officers to meet the needs of the community that they serve. Legislation that is especially relevant to the policing of a particular community will be incorporated within the delivery of the programme in that area, thus paving the way for student officers to develop a more detailed understanding of local issues at an early stage in their careers.

Industrial Espionage

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) foreign nationals and  (b) British nationals have been prosecuted for industrial espionage in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally, as there is no specific offence that relates to industrial espionage.

Intelligence Databases

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2006,  Official Report, column 720W, on intelligence databases, on what dates the procedures listed came into force; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Since 1995, local police forces have held the responsibility for creating and updating data on PNC. Since that date, those forces have also been responsible, for putting in place arrangements with their local non police prosecuting agencies to receive data on people those agencies are seeking to prosecute. The Criminal Records Bureau commenced providing criminal records disclosures in March 2002. The Police National Database is to be introduced in 2009-10.

Motorcycle Theft

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorbikes have been reported as stolen in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: In the recorded crime statistics, thefts of a motorbike cannot be separately identified from other vehicle thefts. Some statistics for motorbike thefts were published in the Bike Theft Index 2005. A copy of this document is available at:
	http://www.secureyourmotor.gov.uk/downloads/biketheftlores.pdf
	Home Office Findings 269 entitled 'The extent of motorcycle theft' gives national statistics for 2001-03 and is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r269.pdf

People Trafficking

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 20 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 1840-1W, on people trafficking, what discussions are being held with countries other than G8 and EU member states on combating human trafficking.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 3 July 2006
	There have been a number of discussions on human trafficking countries outside of the G8 and EU member states. The Home Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development are involved in capacity building projects, the sharing of good practice and awareness raising campaigns on trafficking in a variety of source and transit countries. The countries involved are Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, the Greater Mekong region (parts of Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) and West Africa (including Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Niger and Togo). The UK has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on human trafficking with Nigeria.

People Trafficking

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support will be provided under the Government's Action Plan for Tackling Human Trafficking for  (a) programmes providing protection for trafficked persons who are repatriated and  (b) to ensure that individual victims are not re-trafficked after deportation.

Vernon Coaker: A three month public consultation exercise on the proposed UK Action Plan was launched on 5 January 2006. The consultation addressed the issue of repatriating victims of trafficking and ensuring victims are not re-trafficked. The summary of responses was published on 21 June. The responses will be considered in the course of developing the UK Action Plan on human trafficking which we aim to publish at the end of the year.

People Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to identify, rescue and protect child victims of trafficking in England and Wales.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 20 June 2006
	We have introduced a number of measures to identify, rescue and protect the victims of child trafficking in England and Wales. Guidance issued to Immigration Officers provides advice on how to identify any child entering the UK who may be at risk, whether they are travelling alone or with adults, and what action to take.
	The Government are currently working towards developing the Paladin model whereby joint working between Immigration, Police and local authority social services ensures best practice is applied in identifying children at risk. Furthermore, a change to Immigration Rules on 12 February 2006, enables Immigration Officers to carry out more robust checks on the identity of children passing through ports of entry. For example, the names of all non EU accompanied children will be recorded and, for visa nationals, the visas will carry details such as the child's photograph, whether the child should be accompanied or unaccompanied and, if accompanied, the person with whom they should be travelling.
	The visa application form will also cover details of the parent/guardian, accompanying adults and sponsors of the child. Specially trained teams of Immigration Officers have also been established at 22 ports to deal with cases of unaccompanied children, and arrangements for round-the-clock referral to police and local authority children's services where this is necessary.
	These arrangements will support the development of even closer working arrangements between Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), the police and local authority children services departments. Additionally, the Immigration Service is becoming more involved in the work of the newly established Local Safeguarding Children's Boards in local areas covering major ports of entry.
	The Home Office National Asylum Support Service (NASS) currently reimburses local authorities who receive unaccompanied asylum seeking children into their care with a total of 140 million per annum. Partnership plans to provide safer arrangements for children who have been trafficked are being incorporated into a Home Office/DFES joint review of how local authorities accommodate children from abroad. The review will aim to deliver improvements by ensuring unaccompanied asylum seeking children are placed in local authority areas where specialist services exist to deal with their specific needs.
	The review is also designed to increase specialisation, end inconsistencies in treatment and enable the retention and development of expertise.
	We have also commissioned the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre (CEOP) to carry out an analysis of intelligence data to identify potential numbers of children who may have been trafficked. The results of this exercise will lead to further in depth analysis in order to refine the Government's response to tackling human trafficking.

Police

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his written answer of 20 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1845W, on police, what form the policy review of the police injury award system will take; and what the timescale of the review will be.

Tony McNulty: The review will be led by Home Office officials reporting to the Police Minister. The review will include a public consultation exercise, to which the police staff associations, police forces and authorities will be able to comment. I will consult the Police Negotiating Board on any recommendations arising from the review which require changes to regulations. Officials are in discussion with the staff associations about the timing of the review.

Police

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of community-based police with full enforcement powers in Wales.

Tony McNulty: At the end of September 2005 Wales had 7,575 police officers (983 more than in March 1997). The deployment of police officers to community based policing and to other specialist police units is an operational matter for each Chief Constable in Wales. All police officers have the powers of the office of Constable. We aim to introduce Neighbourhood Policing in every community in England and Wales by April 2007. Communities will see increased patrolling, have better local information, and see a greater focus on confidence and reassurance.

Police

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place for removing the records of retiring police officers from the National DNA Database.

Tony McNulty: Since 1 August 2002, police regulations require all new police recruits to provide a DNA sample for the Police Elimination Database (PED). This is in order to identify and eliminate any DNA profiles found at a crime scene which may have been inadvertently deposited there by an investigating police officer. Police officers who were in service prior to that date were asked to provide a sample on a voluntary basis. Police forces are responsible for notifying the custodian of the PED when officers retire or leave the police service in order that his/her DNA profile may be removed from the database. Police personnel who provided a sample for the PED on a voluntary basis can request removal of their profiles from the PED at any time without giving any reason.

Police

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer question 70884, tabled by the hon. Member for Islwyn on 10 May 2006, on funding to support the merger of police forces in Wales.

Tony McNulty: I replied to my hon. Friend on 7 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1672W.

Prisoners (Licensed Releases)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  in respect of how many offenders out of prison on licence the probation service has no information on their location;
	(2)  for how many offenders out of prison on licence the probation service has no information on their location, broken down by category of offence;
	(3)  for how many of the prisoners free on licence following sentences for sex offences his Department does not have addresses.

John Reid: Information is not collected or collated centrally on the detailed basis requested. Detailed information relating individual offenders under supervision is held locally by their supervising probation officer. All offenders released on licence, including sex offenders are subject to six standard licence conditions: three of which require them to 'keep in touch with your supervising officer', 'permanently to reside at an address approved by your supervising officer' and 'notify him or her in advance of any proposed change of address or proposed stay (even for one night) away from that approved address'. In the event that any such licence conditions are breached, the offender is liable to be recalled to prison upon the recommendation of the probation officer in order to protect the public. Once the licence is revoked and the offender recalled, the police are notified, in order to ensure a swift return to custody. In addition, any offender subject to sex offender registration requirements is required to notify to the police a home address within three days of leaving prison, and to notify any subsequent change of address within three days of the change thereafter while still subject to registration. Failure to supply that information, or supplying false information, is an offence punishable by up to five years imprisonment. Registration requirements were strengthened recently by the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to promote family contact in women's prisons; and what recent assessment he has made of their effectiveness.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Strategy for Family and Parental Support in Women's Prisons published in October 2005 provides comprehensive guidance to establishments and partner agencies on the elements of family support that should be provided in women's prisons, resources permitting. Local arrangements will take account of the strategy and will be subject to review by governors/directors and inspection by Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons. No assessment has yet been undertaken centrally.

Prisons

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners  (a) were admitted to and  (b) have been released from HMP Wellingborough in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many prisoners who are foreign nationals  (a) were admitted to and  (b) have been released from HMP Wellingborough in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many prisoners were released from HMP Wellingborough in each of the last 12 months;
	(4)  when the next foreign national is scheduled to be released from HMP Wellingborough;
	(5)  when the last foreign national prisoner was released from HMP Wellingborough.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answers 8 May 2006
	Information is held centrally on the number of initial receptions into the prison estate, on remand or following a custodial sentence. We do not hold information centrally on subsequent movements around the prison estate. In its capacity as a training prison, Wellingborough would not normally receive initial receptions from the courts (on remand or under sentence). We therefore do not have the requested information for Wellingborough. Comprehensive information on discharges is not available and information on release dates of individual prisoners is not issued publicly.

Prisons

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2006 , Official Report, column 1212W, on Leyhill open prison, how many of those prisoners originally convicted of murder who escaped and were subsequently captured have been  (a) charged and  (b) convicted of escape from lawful custody; and what sentence was delivered in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 11 July 2006
	The information requested is not held centrally and may be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Probation Boards

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the risk assessment undertaken on the proposed reorganisation of probation boards and their services.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is not our practice to publish internal management documents of this kind. The prospect of disclosure could inhibit the unrestrained and unprejudiced assessment of the risks attached to the programme concerned and thus jeopardise successful delivery.

Public Order

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) exclusion orders,  (b) curfews and  (c) parenting orders have been issued by Yeovil police in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: Figures reported to the Home Office on exclusion and curfew orders in the South Somerset petty sessional area (which includes Yeovil) are small and their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Although care is taken in collating and analysing the returns used to compile such figures, the data are of necessity subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.
	We have started a programme of work in the Home Office looking at the quality of existing data on court sentencing and how this might be improved. Parenting Orders are issued by courts. The Youth Justice Board collects the number of Parenting Orders related to youth offending or antisocial behaviour broken down by youth offending team area. It is currently reviewing these figures for the period 2004-05 and 2005-06. I will write to the hon. Member when the reviewed figures are available.

Public Order

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested,  (b) charged and  (c) prosecuted for crimes committed during the protests in London last February against cartoons which were published in Denmark.

Tony McNulty: The information requested on arrests is not available centrally.

Road Safety

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists have received penalties for exceeding the speed limit in areas covered by average speed cameras in the past 12 months.

Tony McNulty: Information on penalties for speeding offences detected by cameras do not distinguish between the different types of cameras used.

Road Traffic Offences (Victims)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime will apply to  (a) those injured and  (b) families of those who die as a result of a road crash caused by someone committing a road traffic offence.

Tony McNulty: The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime covers all victims of crimes recorded under National Crime Recording Standards. In the case of road traffic offences this includes causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and dangerous driving. In addition to this, where a person has died as a result of a road collision and the police are investigating whether an offence under Section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (careless and inconsiderate driving) has been committed, the family will be entitled to services under the Code.

Telephone Advice Lines

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone advice lines his Department and its non-departmental public bodies support; how many telephone advisers each employs; and how much funding is provided to each by  (a) his Department and its non-departmental public bodies,  (b) other Government departments,  (c) the private sector and  (d) the voluntary sector.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Violent Crime (Humberside)

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crime offences were recorded in the Humberside police authority area in each year between 1992 and 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		
			  Violent crimes recorded by the police in Humberside 
			   Number of offences 
			 1992 6142 
			 1993 6279 
			 1994 6296 
			 1995 7265 
			 1996 7516 
			 1997 7758

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2006,  Official Report, column 2088W, on abortion, if she will place in the Library comments made by her Department on the draft of the evidence-based guideline prior to its publication; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) evidence-based guideline, 'The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2004)', states that a summary table of comments received and actions taken is available on request from the RCOG.

Accident and Emergency

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated in the accident and emergency department at  (a) the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and  (b) Worthing Hospital in each of the last three years.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The information requested is not available centrally on an individual hospital basis. The table shows the number of first attendances, follow-up attendances and total attendances at accident and emergency departments and minor injuries units for national health service organisations for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust for the periods shown.
	
		
			   Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust  Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  2005-06   
			 First attendances 116,687 59,330 
			 Follow up attendances 7,699 2,696 
			 Total attendances 124,386 62,026 
			
			  2004-05   
			 First attendances 113,102 58,387 
			 Follow up attendances 7,361 2,946 
			 Total attendances 120,463 61,333 
			
			  2003-04   
			 First attendances 105,316 54,648 
			 Follow up attendances 7,379 2,194 
			 Total attendances 112,695 56,842 
			  Source:  Hospital activity statistics, Department of Health

Accident and Emergency

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were taken via ambulance to the accident and emergency department at  (a) the Royal Sussex county hospital in Brighton and  (b) Worthing hospital in each of the last three years.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Adult Hearing Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to publish a national action plan for adult hearing services; who is responsible for drawing up the action plan; what representations she has received from interested parties on an action plan; and whether interested parties will be asked for their views for the purposes of informing the action plan.

Ivan Lewis: Work is under way at official level and a plan will be published in due course following ministerial approval. Representations have been received from various stakeholders including parliamentarians and there has been a great deal of correspondence on the topic. The Department is keen that the plan should have the support of stakeholders and therefore will be endeavouring to involve them in its development.

Alimta

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the Government's policy is on the use of the drug Alimta;
	(2)  which health authorities in England prescribe the drug Alimta.

Andy Burnham: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is currently conducting an appraisal of Alimta for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta is licensed for this indication and there are currently no national restrictions on the prescribing of this drug.
	In 2005, Alimta was prescribed in secondary care in 22 out of 28 strategic health authorities (SHAs). Details of the SHAs in which the drug has been prescribed cannot be provided due to contractual restrictions on how data on drugs issued in hospitals can be used. The information available to the Department may not capture prescribing as part of a clinical trial. Alimta has never been prescribed in primary care in England.

Alzheimer's Disease

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timescale is for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence investigation into anti-cholinesterate drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Andy Burnham: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has received appeals against its final appraisal determination on these drugs. These appeals will be heard on 13 and 14 July. Subsequent timescales depend on the outcome of the appeals. Details of the appeals process are available in NICE's Guide to the Technology Appraisal Process which is available on its website at www.nice.org.uk. Until NICE issues its final guidance following appeals, the existing 2001 guidance continues to apply.

Alzheimer's Disease

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has had discussions with other European health Ministers about treatment for people with Alzheimer's disease.

Ivan Lewis: The Department have not had any discussions with other European health Ministers about treatment for people with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's Disease

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposed withdrawal of Ebixa on the treatment of people in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease, with particular reference to the effect on behavioural symptoms.

Ivan Lewis: No such assessment has been made. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has not yet issued its final guidance to the national health service on the use of Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl and Ebixa in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's Disease

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's recommendations on the prescription of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease on  (a) people with dementia,  (b) carers of people with dementia and  (c) families of people with dementia.

Ivan Lewis: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not yet issued final guidance to the national health service on the use of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Until it does so NICE's original guidance issued in 2001 continues to apply.

Alzheimer's Disease

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on families' ability to look after mentally ill relatives of the recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's decision on drugs for the treatment of dementia.

Andy Burnham: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not issued final guidance regarding its review of anti-cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. NICE has received appeals against its final appraisal determination on these drugs, which will be heard on 13 and 14 July 2006. Until NICE issues its final guidance following appeals, the existing 2001 guidance continues to apply.

Alzheimer's Disease

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her strategy is for ensuring access to drug treatments for people in the  (a) early and  (b) later stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Ivan Lewis: It is for clinicians to decide in any particular case, the appropriate drug treatment, if any, for patients in the early or later stages of Alzheimer's disease, in the light of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance.

Audiology

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was  (a) the average waiting time for a hearing aid and  (b) the audiology budget for each primary care trust covering Portsmouth in each of the last three years; and what each is (i) for 2006-07 and (ii) for the next two years; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally. It is for primary care trusts to ensure their local population benefits from modernised hearing aid services.

Audiology

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her response of 20 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1789W to my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle), on audiology, within what average period new patients in  (a) the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley primary care trust (PCT) area and  (b) each other PCT area in the new south east coast strategic health authority area have been fitted with digital hearing aids since they became available in each PCT.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Audiology

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times from GP referral to fitting of digital hearing aids are for  (a) new patients and  (b) existing patients with an analogue hearing aid in the North Somerset primary care trust area.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not available.

Audiology

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to collect waiting time data for hearing aid services.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect waiting time data for audiology services. However, since January 2006 we have been collecting waiting time and activity data for 15 diagnostic tests or procedures, including pure tone audiometry. This data has been shared with the national health service, for performance management purposes since 2 June 2006. This data will be published on 12 July 2006.

Autism

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance the Department provides to parents whose children are diagnosed with autism.

Ivan Lewis: In April 2001, the Department awarded a three-year grant to the National Autistic Society for their parenting skills project help!. This developed a training programme for parents of children of any age who have recently received a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder. It provides essential, timely information and practical strategies to help parents understand and manage their child's condition and give them the knowledge and confidence to plan for their future.
	Parents who are carers of children with autism are entitled to an assessment of their needs by local councils. Under the carers grant, worth 185 million in 2006-07, councils can provide carers with direct services, breaks and direct payments for carers' services, according to their assessed level of need.

Autism

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will commission research into early diagnosis of autism through analysis of the placenta.

Andy Burnham: No. The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service. The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Innovation.
	The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.

Autism

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Department spent conducting research into autism in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 17 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1092.

Breast Cancer

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether central funding is available for new hormonal treatments for early breast cancer as set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's Appraisal Consultation Document.

Andy Burnham: There is no specific central funding available for these treatments.
	Provision is made within national health service allocations for the estimated impact on the NHS of published guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Carers

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the time taken by local authorities in assessing the needs of those caring for disabled relatives; and what support her Department gives to local authorities to make such assessments.

Ivan Lewis: The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 gives carers the right to a carer's assessment. It is for councils to ensure that assessments are carried out in a timely manner to ensure that carers do not wait unnecessarily for a needs assessment or services.

Choose and Book Service

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the  (a) robustness,  (b) ease of use and  (c) reliability of the choose and book system.

Andy Burnham: To ensure robustness, the performance of the choose and book system was tested before implementation and is re-tested as changes are made. The test results have all been within agreed service levels.
	The service was designed to be as user friendly as possible. Ease of use is regularly assessed in partnership with regional user groups as well as national groups such as the national clinical reference panel and the design steering group. Potential improvements are identified by these groups with changes delivered in subsequent releases of the software. Local benchmarking suggests that choose and book has excellent usability when the local configuration is correct.
	Over the last 12 months, choose and book has been available to general practitioners more than 99 per cent. of the time and agreed service levels are being met.

Choose and Book Service

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effects of the implementation of choose and book;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of choose and book on general practitioners surgeries; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: As at 3 July 2006, 568,611 patients had been referred through choose and book, with the referral information available electronically to commissioners and providers. The Department receives regular feedback on the effects of the system through a range of channels, which suggests that patients who receive the service welcome it. As with the implementation of any such system, change is required of those who administer it but we do not expect the choose and book service to increase the overall workload for general practitioner practices.

Choose and Book Service

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date the choose and book system was expected to have achieved 100 per cent. roll-out when it was first announced; what targets have been issued since then; whether those targets have been met; and what percentage roll-out had been achieved on the last date for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The aim of the national health service improvement plan in 2004 was for 100 per cent., e-booking by the end of December 2005. This became unachievable due to subsequent developments in the technical requirements of the service and the greater implementation challenge that these represented. We now expect to reach a choose and book utilisation level of 90 per cent., of general practitioner referrals by the end of March 2007. As at 2 July 2006, utilisation stood at 20.4 per cent.
	All eligible acute providers in England are now live and are accepting bookings through choose and book. Bookings are made through either an integrated patient admission system or indirectly bookable services functionality.

Choose and Book Service

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which general practitioner practices  (a) have started then ceased to use the choose and book computer system to make appointments and  (b) have decreased their use of the choose and book system in each week measured over the last six months; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: As at 25 June, 2,201 general practitioner (GP) practices had started to use the choose and book service in 2006. We have defined started to use as the GP practice making a minimum of twenty bookings. Of these practices, eight had not used the choose and book service to make a booking in the last thirty days. The central support team are working in areas of low utilisation to help improve the take up of choose and book.

Clostridium Difficile

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) males and (b) females in (i) Southend-on-Sea, (ii) Essex and (iii) England and Wales were infected with clostridium difficile infections in each of the last three years, broken down by age.

Andy Burnham: Data for Southend on Sea and Essex are not available. However, data from the voluntary reporting scheme run by the Health Protection Agency for Eastern England and England and Wales are shown in the following table.
	
		
			2003  2004  2005( 1)  2003  2004  2005( 1)  2003  2004  2005( 1) 
			  1 year   
			  Female 26 23 14 5 16 11 99 79 77 
			  Male 12 16 14 16 7 8 74 67 66 
			  Unknown  2 15   6 1 3 71 
			  1-4 years   
			  Female 10 18 11 3 11 3 61 74 57 
			  Male 30 19 1 3 4  104 76 3 
			  Unknown 1 1 10   2 2 3 38 
			  5-9 years   
			  Female 9 6 2  1 1 26 23 21 
			  Male 10 7 6 2 1 3 34 26 34 
			  10-14 years   
			  Female 8 3 9 1  4 35 27 43 
			  Male 2 7 1 2 1  29 28 1 
			  15-44 years   
			  Female 119 143 115 41 60 50 832 968 1,099 
			  Male 108 114 92 24 36 21 692 806 871 
			  Unknown  2 2  1 1 7 8 11 
			  45-64 years   
			  Female 278 311 333 101 111 127 1,896 2,168 2,420 
			  Male 270 272 321 92 136 101 1,837 2,120 2,417 
			  Unknown 1 2 613 14 21 
			  65-74 years   
			  Female 435 579 568 159 196 159 2,869 3,763 4,087 
			  Male 413 539 590 142 189 175 2,777 3,613 4,203 
			  Unknown 1 8 1225 32 44 
			  75+ years   
			  Female 2,167 2,655 2,891 635 805 770 13,290 16,493 19,069 
			  Male 1,253 1,589 1,823 352 528 485 7,744 9,634 11,269 
			  Unknown 9 21 44 3 1 2 79 107 145 
			  Unknown   
			  Female 37 19 14 3 6 5 345 159 116 
			  Male 27 15 8 3   262 78 69 
			  Unknown 6 3 5  4 5 68 30 249 
			 Grand total  58,231 6,377 6,907 1,587 2,114 1,939 33,201 40,399 46,501 
			 (1)The data for 2005 are provisional and all data are subject to change due to late reporting.  Notes:  1. The data on cases reported in babies (less than one year) should be treated with caution. They may not represent infections because asymptomatic carriage is common in babies.  2. The data were extracted on Tuesday 27 June 2006.

Community Hospitals

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her statement on community hospitals on 5 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 816-32, with particular reference to the presumption against taking decisions in response to short-term budgetary pressures, if she will ask the West Midlands strategic health authority to ensure that proposals from the South Worcester primary care trust to close palliative care beds at Evesham community hospitals are withdrawn.

Caroline Flint: The configuration of local health care services in a particular area requires local decision-making. Primary care trusts are best placed to make those decisions in consultation with local people and their strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	SHAs should assure themselves that proposals for changes to community hospitals are consistent with the long-term strategy of the White Paper, Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services.

Community Hospitals

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which community hospitals have had  (a) some and  (b) all of their beds closed on the instructions of their primary care trusts.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not centrally collected.

Complaints Services (West Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements her Department has made to ensure that  (a) patients in West Lancashire will have access to an independent complaints and advocacy service when the current contract with the Citizens Advice Bureau finishes and  (b) that there will be a smooth transfer from the current provider to the new service.

Rosie Winterton: In late 2005 and early 2006, the Department awarded contracts to three organisations who have been delivering a new and improved independent complaints advocacy service (ICAS) from 1 April 2006.
	Contracts have been awarded for each Government region. The new service provider in West Lancashire is The Carers Federation Ltd. who have been delivering ICAS under contract to the Department since 1 September 2003, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in general and specialist advocacy service delivery.
	All providers, including Citizens Advice, have worked together in order to ensure a smooth transition for clients; their aim was to provide as seamless a transition process as possible.
	Detailed transition plans had been drawn up, the implementation of which is being monitored by the Department. In addition, the ICAS transition co-ordinator is continuing to work with all service providers during the first six months of the contract, to support the initial set up and transition phases.

Continuing Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether individuals previously in receipt of NHS continuing care will continue to receive their care fully funded if the new National Framework for Continuing Care deems them to be ineligible for it.

Ivan Lewis: The national framework will not change the existing legal basis for the provision of national health service continuing healthcare. The purpose of the national framework is to ensure fairness and consistency by implementing a single set of principles on eligibility and assessment for NHS funding across England. Fully funded NHS continuing healthcare will continue to be provided for all those individuals whose primary need is a health need, and unless individuals' needs have changed there is no reason to expect them to lose their entitlement to NHS continuing healthcare.

Correspondence

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to the letters of 23 May and 15 June on the configuration and composition of primary care trusts in Cheshire from the hon. Member for Macclesfield.

Rosie Winterton: A reply was sent on 6 July.

Cosmetic Procedures

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cosmetic procedures are available free of charge on the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Surgery and other procedures for purely cosmetic purposes are not available on the national health service, but certain cosmetic procedures may be available to secure physical or psychological health, for example to correct defects arising from diseases and conditions such as trauma or cancer, to correct congenital defects or to restore function, including the necessary correction of any previous cosmetic operations. In these cases, care is offered based on individual clinical need determined by clinicians and in line with locally agreed priorities for care.

Dentistry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that dental appliances originating from foreign suppliers are subject to the same standards as those manufactured in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Jones) on 20 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1799W.

Dentistry

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency  (a) is taking and  (b) plans to take to monitor the quantity and quality of single-tooth dentures imported from countries outside the European Union.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 July 2006
	The Medical Devices Regulations 2002, for which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) acts as the regulatory authority on behalf of the Secretary of State, does not regulate the quantity of dentures imported from countries outside the European Union. They do, though, contain requirements for the safety and fitness for purpose of custom-made dental appliances which all manufacturers, wherever they are based, should ensure are met before placing their dentures on the United Kingdom market. Where the manufacturer is based outside the European Community they are also required under the regulations to appoint an authorised representative to register on their behalf with the member state competent authority where they have their registered place of business. MHRA conducts an annual programme of inspections of custom made appliance manufacturers and authorised representatives based in the UK, selected at random.

Dentistry

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effect of the replacement of crowns by single-tooth dentures on long-term dental health;
	(2)  what change there has been in the number of  (a) single-tooth dentures and  (b) single-tooth crowns provided since the introduction of the new dental contract.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 July 2006
	It is for individual dentists working under general dental services contracts or personal dental services agreements to use their clinical judgment to determine the type and quality of any dental appliance required. The Department does not collect routine information on the quantity or type of dental appliances supplied but will be assessing, in conjunction with the implementation review group, the impact of the new contractual arrangements on this and other aspects of the services provided to national health service patients.

Dentistry

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there was in the number of  (a) single tooth dentures and  (b) single-tooth crowns provided during the dental contract pilot schemes between 2004 and 2006.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 July 2006
	The table shows the number of single tooth dentures, including incomplete dentures, single tooth crowns, and temporary and incomplete crowns, in personal dental services (PDS) pilots between 2004 and 2005.
	
		
			  Specific PDS treatments in England as at 31 March for each year 
			  Year ending  Single tooth dentures  Single tooth crown claims 
			 March 2004 1,244 6,488 
			 March 2005 5,403 36,396 
			 March 2006 19,379 127,767 
			  Source:  NHS Business Services Authority 
		
	
	
		
			  The number of PDS dentists increased considerably over the same period 
			  Year ending  PDS dentists 
			 March 2004 917 
			 March 2005 3,665 
			 March 2006 6,219 
			  Source:  NHS Business Services Authority

Departmental Finance Directors

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) name,  (b) professional and academic qualifications and  (c) relevant experience are of the finance director of her Department.

Ivan Lewis: Richard Douglas is the Department director general of finance and investment.
	He was appointed in May 2001. This is his third spell with the Department following a secondment from the NAO between 1990 and 1992 and three years as deputy director of finance from 1996. Immediately prior to his return to the Department he was finance director for national savings.
	He is a graduate of Hull university and he started his career in public sector finance with the National Audit Office where he qualified as an accountant (CIPFA) in 1983.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list in date order  (a) Green and  (b) White Papers produced by her Department since October 2005.

Ivan Lewis: Since October 2005, the Department has published the White Paper, Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services in January 2006.
	No Green Papers have been published by the Department during this period.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what draft Bills have been produced by her Department since October 2005; how many were  (a) examined and  (b) are planned to be examined by (i) a Departmental Select Committee and (ii) a Joint Committee; what draft Bills are still to be produced by her Department; when each is expected to be published; how many clauses each has; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: No draft Bills have been produced by the Department since October 2005. Announcements on future legislation and future draft legislation which will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny will be indicated in the Queen's Speech.

Departmental Surveys

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what surveys her Department has carried out on patient attitudes to choice in the NHS since 1997; and if she will publish the results.

Ivan Lewis: Surveys commissioned by the Department since 1997 on patient attitudes to choice in the national health service are shown in the following table. Other surveys on patient choice exist but were commissioned by other organisations.
	
		
			  Title of document  Date  Survey carried out by  Results available from 
			 Choices in Mental Health Care, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health Briefing Paper No. 31 January 2006 Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and the King's Fund To be published summer 2006. 
			 Our Choices in Mental Health June 2005 Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) To be published summer 2006. 
			 Understanding Patients' Choices at the Point of Referral December 2005 Rand Europe with City University and the King's Fund www.rand.org/pubs/technical reports/TR359/ 
			 Working paper available from: www.kingsfund.org.uk/health topics/patient choice 2.html 
			 What will people choose when choice goes live? October 2005 MORI www.mori.com 
			 NHS Maternity Services Quantitative Research October 2005 TNS System Three www.dh.gov.uk 
			 GP Choice 2005 MORI This survey was commissioned as part of the development of the public consultation 'Your Health Your Care, Your Say' and was not intended for publication 
			 Patients' Experience of Choosing Where to Undergo Surgical Treatment July 2005 London Patient Choice Project, evaluated by Picker Institute Europe www.pickereurope.org 
			 www.dh.gov.uk 
			 Evaluation of the London Patient Choice Project (LPCP) January 2005 Rand Europe, King's Fund and City University www.dh.gov.uk 
			 Implications of offering 'Patient Choice' for routine adult surgical referrals March 2004 Dr. Foster and the University of Nottingham www.dh.gov.uk 
			 LPCP: Patient's Experience of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Choice 2003 London Patient Choice Project, evaluated by Picker Institute Europe www.pickereurope.org 
			 Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity November 2003 MORI www.dh.gov.uk

Deposited Papers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the Deposited Papers placed in the Library by her Department since 2000; and when each was published.

Ivan Lewis: We do not keep a central record.

Diabetes

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most recent rate of registered diabetes was in  (a) Stoke-on-Trent,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England.

Rosie Winterton: The figures are not available in the format requested. The most recent data available on people registered as having diabetes are from the quarter four local delivery plan returns (LDPR) for 2005-06. The total numbers of patients with diabetes on practice-based registers for Stoke-on-Trent, the West Midlands and England, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Organisation/ primary care trust (PCT)  Number of people with diabetes as recorded on practice-based registers  General practitioner (GP) registered population  Rate per 100,000 population 
			  Stoke on Trent
			 Newcastle Under Lyme PCT 4,193 101,119 4,147 
			 North Stoke PCT 5,659 123,684 4,575 
			 South Stoke PCT 5,881 132,460 4,440 
			 
			  West Midlands
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 58,443 1,473,728 3,699 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 103,680 2,301,208 4,505 
			 West Midlands South 56,146 1,552,427 3,617 
			 
			  England 1,884,712 49,878,931 3,779

Diabetes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions her Department has had with Diabetes UK about the impact on patients of proposed price reductions set out in the consultation arrangements for the provision of dressings and chemical reagents to primary care;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with the in vitro diagnostics industry on the impact of proposed price changes to chemical reagents on their ability to continue to provide patient services and hardware free of charge;
	(3)  when her Department will publish in full the responses received to the Government consultation on the arrangements for the provision of dressings, incontinence appliances, stoma appliances, chemical reagents and other appliances to primary and secondary care;
	(4)  pursuant to the Government consultation arrangements for the provision of dressings and chemical reagents to primary care, what criteria were used to determine the figure of 15 per cent. for the proposed price reduction for chemical reagents; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what discussions have taken place between the diabetes policy team and the commercial directorate in her Department on her Department's consultations on  (a) arrangements for the provision of dressings, incontinence appliances, stoma appliances, chemical reagents and other appliances to primary and secondary care, and  (b) arrangements for the provision of dressings and chemical reagents to primary care; and if she will make a statement;
	(6)  what factors were taken into account when setting the length of the consultation period for her Department's consultation on arrangements for the provision of dressings and chemical reagents to primary care; and if she will make a statement;
	(7)  what steps she is taking to ensure that the availability of blood-glucose testing products and support services to diabetes patients will not be affected by proposed changes in the Government consultation arrangements for the provision of dressings and chemical reagents to primary care.

Andy Burnham: The Department has been reviewing the arrangements for the provision of chemical reagents (blood glucose testing strips), dressings, incontinence appliances and stoma appliances to primary and secondary care since October 2005.
	In the intervening period, two consultations papers have been published that sought views from interested parties on proposed changes to the arrangements. Interested parties includes patients, the national health service and manufacturers and suppliers. These parties were informed that the Department was seeking their comments on the proposed changes. Responses were received to both consultations from Diabetes UK and from the in-vitro diagnostic industry, both individually and through their trade body, BIVDA.
	The first consultationarrangements for the provision of chemical reagents, dressings, incontinence appliances and stoma appliances to primary and secondary carewas open for 90 days and the secondarrangements for the provision of dressings and chemical reagents to primary carefor 30 days.
	The shorter period for the second consultation was judged to be warranted as it was part of an ongoing process that had begun with the first consultation in October 2005.
	The second consultation stated that the Department believes that current reimbursement prices for some dressings and reagents may not represent value-for-money for either the NHS or taxpayers. Therefore, it proposed that a reduction in the reimbursement price through Part IX of the drug tariff should be made on some dressings and some reagents and sought views on this.
	The proposed reduction in the reimbursement price on some reagents was 15 per cent. In arriving at this, the Department believes that one of the clearest indications of value-for-money is the difference between reimbursement prices in primary care, and the prices at which these products are available in secondary care. The Department believes that a comparison between the sectors is appropriate, subject to a number of adjustments to reflect factors unique to each sector.
	These factors include differences in the underlying costs associated with supply of products to primary and secondary care. Packaging specifications, pack sizes, logistics costs and margins across the supply chain, amongst other things, have an affect on price, and were taken into account in the analysis.
	The Department also took into account the claims that were made about the provision of 'free' testing meters in primary care when comparing pricing between the two sectors.
	Overall, there is a difference of up to 35 per cent. between reimbursement prices in primary care and prices paid in secondary care. The size of difference cannot be reasonably explained by the factors outlined above.
	The Department's diabetes policy teamwhich includes Dr Sue Roberts, national clinical director for diabeteshas been kept informed throughout the process.
	Until such time as the review has been completed, the Department is not in a position to comment on plans to ensure the availability of blood glucose testing strips.
	Regarding the publication of responses in full to the consultations on the arrangements for the provision of chemical reagents, dressings, incontinence appliances and stoma appliances to primary and secondary care, the Department considers that it is reasonable to withhold publication until a future date, pending the outcome of on-going discussions and further consultations on future arrangements.
	Disclosure of the responses to the first consultation would be likely to influence or inhibit those responding to the further consultations and prevent the Department from obtaining fair and representative views from stakeholders.
	The Department considers that the public interest in disclosing the responses is outweighed by the public interest in withholding them. This is because although there is an inherent public interest in openness and accountability in Government, there is a greater public interest in ensuring that the Department's consultation process is effective and that the Department negotiates new arrangements that deliver fair prices for the NHS and reasonable returns for suppliers.

Drug Costs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on national health service drugs in each of the last three years; what the percentage change was in each year; and by how much remuneration to prescribing pharmacists has changed in the last three years.

Andy Burnham: Expenditure on national health service drugs in each of the last three years, with percentage growth, is shown in table one.
	
		
			   Net ingredient cost ( million)  Percentage growth 
			 2002 6,846.656  
			 2003 7,510.134 9.69 
			 2004 8,079.567 7.58 
			 2005 7,936.564 -1.77 
		
	
	These figures are from the prescription cost analysis (PCA) system, supplied by the prescription pricing division of the NHS Business Services Authority (formerly known as the Prescriptions Pricing Authority). Fees paid to pharmacists from central non-discretionary funds for the dispensing of prescriptions and provision of pharmaceutical services in each of the last three years, with percentage growth, are shown in table two.
	
		
			   Fees paid ( million)  Percentage growth 
			 2002-03 800.842  
			 2003-04 837.436 4.57 
			 2004-05 861.460 2.87 
			 2005-06 986.586 14.52 
			  Note: Figures are resource costs. 2005-06 figures are unaudited.

Drug Misuse Strategies

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people, and at what grades, are employed in her Department to work on drug misuse strategies, in addition to those employed by the National Treatment Agency.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table in whole time equivalents (WTE) for the senior civil service and the Department's integrated pay scales. There are currently 2.9 WTE working on drug treatment, plus 1.6 working on prevention of drug and alcohol misuse by young people.
	
		
			   Whole-time equivalents 
			  Drug treatment  
			 Senior civil service 0.58 
			 IP4 upper 0.8 
			 IP4 standard 1.0 
			 IP3 standard 0 
			 IP2 0.5 
			 Total 2.9 
			   
			  Young peopledrug and alcohol prevention  
			 Senior civil service 0.02 
			 IP4 upper 0.1 
			 IP4 standard 0 
			 IP3 standard 1.0 
			 IP2 0.5 
			 Total 1.6 
			  Note: IPintegrated payband where IP1 is the minimum pay range.

Drug-related Conditions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug-related conditions were treated  (a) in total and  (b) in the accident and emergency department at (i) the Royal Sussex county hospital in Brighton and (ii) Worthing hospital in each of the last three years.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the saving from the Department's decision not to renew the bulk contract for the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin.

Andy Burnham: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 23 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1743W.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of  (a) administrating and  (b) buying allocations for each NHS hospital included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme was in its first year of operation.

Andy Burnham: Figures on the total cost of administrating and buying allocations for each national health service hospital included in the EU emission trading scheme in its first year of operation are not held centrally.

Fibromyalgia

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what information is  (a) published by her Department and  (b) available via NHS Direct on fibromyalgia; when the last update was made to the information available; and when the last update to such information was undertaken;
	(2)  whether she has discussed treatment and care for people with fibromyalgia with UK based fibromyalgia support charities.

Ivan Lewis: Ministers have not held any recent discussions with fibromyalgia support charities on the treatment and care of people with this condition.
	NHS Direct publishes health information in a variety of media, including the NHS Direct online website and the NHS Direct interactive digital television service (NHS Direct interactive). Through these services, people have access to information on a range of conditions and illnesses, including fibromyalgia. Information provided by NHS Direct is reviewed and updated on a regular basis and individual web pages contain details of when the information was last updated.
	Additionally, PRODIGY guidance, which is available on its website at www.prodigy.nhs.uk, offers advice on the management of a range of conditions and symptoms, including fibromyalgia, that are commonly seen in primary care. The guidance is advisory and has been developed to assist healthcare professionals, together with patients, in making decisions about the management of the patient's health. Guidance contained on the website is reviewed on a regular basis.

Fires

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fires there were in the NHS Estate in each year since 1995; and what the cost was in each year.

Andy Burnham: These figures have been extracted from the information contained in the fire database held by the Department. National health service trusts are required to report all outbreaks of fire to which the fire and rescue service attend. The figures below represent those incidents reported to the Department during the period 1994-95 to 2004-05, and therefore may not be representative of the actual number of incidents attended by the fire services. NHS foundation trusts are not mandated to provide information in relation to fire incidents.
	Table 1 represents the total number of fire incidents reported to the Department between 1994-95 and 2004-05 which are held in the database.
	
		
			  Table 1Number of reported fires during period 
			   Number of fires 
			 1994-95 606 
			 1995-96 1,017 
			 1996-97 1,038 
			 1997-98 1,136 
			 1998-99 912 
			 1999-2000 1,125 
			 2000-01 1,045 
			 2001-02 948 
			 2002-03 809 
			 2003-04 832 
			 2004-05 1,194 
		
	
	A total of 10,662 fires were reported to the Department during this period.
	Table 2 shows the maximum cost identified to the Department resulting from the reported fire incidents during the period held in the database.
	
		
			  Table 2Maximum cost of reported fire incidents 
			   Maximum cost () 
			 1994-95 100,000 
			 1995-96 66,000 
			 1996-97 350,000 
			 1997-98 1,000,000 
			 1998-99 1,000,000 
			 1999-2000 120,000 
			 2000-01 150,000 
			 2001-02 300,000 
			 2002-03 10,000,000 
			 2003-04 500,000 
			 2004-05 1,000,000 
		
	
	The total maximum cost of the reported fires in the period is 14,586,000.

Food Supplements Directive

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effect of the food supplements directive on the UK food supplements industry; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent meetings she has held with  (a) the UK food supplements industry,  (b) the European Commission and  (c) the Prime Minister on the food supplements directive; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: A regulatory impact assessment was carried out in relation to the food supplements directive in 2003, which evaluated the impact on the United Kingdom food supplements industry.
	The public health Minister held a series of meetings with the UK food supplements industry in March 2006 to discuss the issue of food supplements, and has recently met with the representatives from No. 10, Cabinet Office and the Food Standards Agency to discuss this issue.

Foster Review

Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to initiate a formal consultation on the merits of changes to the regulation of non-medical healthcare professionals proposed in the Foster Review.

Andy Burnham: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor) on 15 May 2006,  Official Report, column 694W.

Foundation Trusts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what powers foundation trust governors have to refer issues to the trust's membership; and what status responses of those members have in relation to board policy; [R]
	(2)  what requirement there is on a board of a foundation trust to consult  (a) members and  (b) governors on major changes in service delivery.

Ivan Lewis: NHS foundation trusts (NHSFTs) have a duty to encourage local people to become members and are accountable to their membership base via the board of governors. Membership must be representative of the communities served by NHSFTs.
	Governors are responsible for representing the interests of the community in the management of the organisation and for sharing information about key decisions with members and receiving their views on specific issues. The constitution of each NHSFT details the practice and procedure of governors. While operational management decisions remain the responsibility of the board of directors, governors are able to influence decisions about priorities and the development and delivery of services made by directors who must consult and take the views of governors on board in forward planning.

Framing Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her practice is regarding meeting, discussing and taking into account the views and opinions of  (a) private individuals and  (b) representatives of organisations when drawing up and framing legislation to be introduced by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department always seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making process; both informal and formal.
	A recent example was the consultation leading up to the White Paper 'Our health, our care, our say', which involved a wide range of face-to-face events, including four regional consultation events and a national citizens' summit for 1,000 people in Birmingham on 29 October 2005. There were 150 local consultation events organised by voluntary and statutory organisations, attended by over 8,000 people. Face-to-face debates were backed-up by over 33,000 completed questionnaires and a major usage and attitudes survey.
	The Department holds regular meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts. Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Department's formal consultations which abide by the code of conduct on consultation. Known stakeholders are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the code, the Department then gives feedback on the responses received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.

General Practitioners

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners per head of population there are in Yeovil constituency.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, the information on how many general practitioners there are per head of population in South Somerset primary care trust (PCT) area is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  South Somerset PCT 
			   Number 
			 All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(1) 107 
			 All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(1) per 100,000 head of population 70.4 
			 (1) General medical practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars, includes contracted general practitioners, general medical services others and personal medical services others. 2004 population figures from the 2001 Office for National Statistics (ONS) resident estimates have been used for 2005 organisation calculations, as population figures for 2005 at organisation level are not yet available.   Sources:  The Information Centre for health and social care general and personal medical services statistics. 2001 ONS population census.

General Practitioners

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is of the additional pension liability associated with the new GP contract; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Government Actuary's Department has valued the total liabilities of the NHS Pension Scheme as at 31 March 2005 to be 127.9 billion. They are in the process of preparing a detailed actuarial valuation of the scheme as at 31 March 2004 which will be published later this year. It will include analysis of the factors leading to any change in valuation.

Genetically-modified Organisms

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research she has commissioned into the impact of genetically modified organisms on human health.

Caroline Flint: As the United Kingdom Competent Authority for the EC Regulation 1829/2003 on genetically modified (GM) food and feed, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) supports a research programme to underpin the safety assessment of GM foods, and its role in ensuring food safety and consumer choice. Research funded by the FSA is reviewed to ensure that any emerging issues are identified and research is commissioned where appropriate.

Harwich Hospital

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the delayed opening of the new hospital in Harwich.

Andy Burnham: The national health service East of England reports that the delay is attributable to remedial flooring works taking place. However, Tendring Primary Care Trust expects the phased move into the new Fryatt hospital and Mayflower medical centre to be completed by the end of August this year.

Head Injuries

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in Lancashire offer specialist services for the rehabilitation of patients with severe head injuries.

Rosie Winterton: There are two units within Lancashire providing specialist rehabilitation services to patients with severe head injuries. These are the Preston neuro-rehabilitation centre, part of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, and the Rakehead unit in Burnley, part of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Health Circular 2002/004

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to enforce the provisions of health circular 2002/004; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Directions, contained in annex D of the health service circular 2002/004, place the same statutory funding requirements on national health service bodies for the risk-sharing scheme as applies to positive guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
	Ensuring compliance is the responsibility of strategic health authorities. Failure risks an adverse report to the Secretary of State from the independent Healthcare Commission.

Health Service Provision (Auditing)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the implementation of  (a) Practice Based Commissioning,  (b) Payment by Results and  (c) patient choice will be audited.

Andy Burnham: External audit of the implementation, by national health service bodies other than foundation trusts, of health policy is the responsibility of the Audit Commission and the National Audit Office. Foundation trust auditors are appointed by the governors of the trust. All follow professional standards based on the international standards on auditing issued by the Auditing Practices Board. In addition, NHS bodies have internal audit services.

Health Services (Barnet)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on NHS waiting lists in Barnet  (a) for elective surgery and  (b) for out-patient appointments; what the (i) average and (ii) longest wait was in each case in 2005-06; what the equivalent figures were on 1 May 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not collected in the format requested. However, the table shows data for in-patient and out-patients waits, including average waiting times for Barnet Primary Care Trust (PCT) in March 2006 and its predecessor, Barnet health authority (HA), in June 1997.
	The table shows that the longest wait for in-patient treatment in June 1997 was over 24 months compared to five to six months in March 2006. The table also shows that the longest wait for out-patient treatment in March 2006 was 13 to 17 weeks compared to over 26 weeks in June 1997.
	
		
			  In-patient waits by timebandBarnet PCT and Barnet HA, June 1997 and March 2006 
			  Year/Quarter/Org Code   Number 
			  2005-06Q4   
			  5A9  Barnet PCT  
			  00 to 01 months 1,245 
			  01 to 02 months 1,175 
			  02 to 03 months 760 
			  03 to 04 months 568 
			  04 to 05 months 509 
			  05 to 06 months 232 
			  06 to 07 months 0 
			  07 to 08 months 0 
			  08 to 09 months 0 
			  09 to 10 months 0 
			  10 to 11 months 0 
			  1997-98Q1   
			  QAQ  Barnet HA  
			  03 months 3,425 
			  3-5 months 1,773 
			  6-8 months 967 
			  9-11 months 592 
			  12-14 months 277 
			  15-17 months 120 
			  18-20 months 26 
			  21-23 months 10 
			  24+ months 8 
			  Total waiting list 7,198 
			  Median wait (weeks) 14.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Year/Quarter/Org Code   Number 
			  2005-06Q4   
			  5A9  Barnet PCT  
			  11 to 12 months 0 
			  12+ months 0 
			  Total waiting list 4,489 
			  Median wait (weeks) 8.0 
			 QAQ  Barnet HA  
			  11 to 12 months  
			  12+ months  
			  Total waiting list  
			  Median wait (weeks)  
		
	
	
		
			  In-patient waits by timebandBarnet PCT and Barnet HA, June 1997 and March 2006 
			  Year/Quarter/Org Code   Number 
			  2005-06Q4   
			  5A9  Barnet PCT  
			  Not seen 04 weeks 4,967 
			  Not seen 48 weeks 3,556 
			  Not seen 813 weeks 1,225 
			  Not seen 1317 weeks 1 
			  Not seen 1721 weeks 0 
			  Not seen 21+ weeks 0 
			  Total list 9,749 
			  Median wait (weeks) 6.7 
			  1997-98Q4   
			  QAQ  Barnet HA  
			  Not seen 1326 weeks 1,224 
			  Not seen 26+ weeks 388 
			  Total list n/a 
			  Median wait (weeks) 5.6

Healthcare Workforce

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to reform the regulation of the  (a) medical and  (b) non-medical healthcare workforce in England.

Andy Burnham: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 15 May 2006,  Official Report, column 694W to the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor).

Healthcare-acquired Infections

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many MRSA bloodstream infections were recorded at  (a) the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and  (b) Worthing Hospital in each of the last three years.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The information is not available in the format requested. However, the table shows the number of methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) reports for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals National Health Service Trust and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust for the periods shown.
	
		
			  Number of reported blood stream infections (bacteraemia) 
			   Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust  Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 April 2002-March 2003 74 15 
			 April 2003-March 2004 107 22 
			 April 2004-March 2005 129 34 
			  Source:  Health Protection Agency

Hospital Closures

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date it was announced that the Severalls hospital at Colchester would close; and on what date it ceased to be occupied by patients.

Andy Burnham: The decision to close Severalls hospitals was made in approximately 1994, with the physical closure at the end of March 1997.
	However, it should be noted that there was not a full closure of the hospital site, merely the core ayslum buildings. At the point of closure, clients were moved to newly developed mental health facilities in Colchester, Clacton and Chelmsford. The hospital building also housed a number of acute wards and those patients were transferred to other accommodation in Essex Rivers Healthcare National Health Service Trust.
	Since 1997 services have continued to be provided from the periphery of the Severalls site, namely:
	Low secure unit;
	Psychiatric intensive care unit;
	Long-stay rehabilitation;
	Office and community bases;
	Pathology laboratory; and
	Anglia Ruskin universitynurse education unit.
	A learning disabilities day unit has also been developed more recently on the site.

Import Licence Applications

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many parallel import licence  (a) applications and  (b) variations were received by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency in each of the last 12 months; how many outstanding licence applications and variations were waiting to be processed by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency in each month; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Parallel import licence applications and variations received by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the 12 months July 2005 to June 2006 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Received  Applications  Variations 
			  2005   
			 July 60 25 
			 August 177 68 
			 September 922 549 
			 October 499 821 
			 November 181 730 
			 December 192 717 
			
			  2006   
			 January 425 600 
			 February 1,080 348 
			 March 518 353 
			 April 103 570 
			 May 237 513 
			 June 304 499 
		
	
	Figures for the monthly outstanding licence applications and variations waiting to be processed for the previous 12 months are not available. Pending applications are all applications that have been received by the MHRA but have not completed the licensing process. These applications are at various stages of the licensing process with the responsibility for the next step being either with the MHRA or the applicant. For the pending applications the MHRA has responsibility for approximately 48 per cent. of the licence applications and 33 per cent. of the variations. The remaining applications require an action from the applicants.
	The pending application figures for July 2005 and June 2006 are:
	
		
			  Pending  Applications  Variations 
			 July 2005 3,290 5,093 
			 June 2006 5,140 6,118 
		
	
	The current MHRA performance in the processing of parallel import applications is not satisfactory. The large number of pending applications has been a result of increased volume of applications being received on a year on year basis as well as some severe operational problem with the new information management system introduced in August 2005.
	Many system improvements affecting both the function and the speed of new information system have now been implemented and staff are more familiar with the use and new ways of working with the system. Since January 2006 the electronic portal has been available to companies for electronic submission of applications. This has major benefits as electronic submission via this system cuts down on initial administrative processing at the MHRA and facilitates more immediate and reliable exchange of correspondence on applications.
	Further implemented measures such as increasing the number of assessors and out-of-hours bonus exercise for assessors are resulting in increased throughput of work. The MHRA is paying very close attention to the MHRA's performance and they are monitoring weekly so as to evaluate the effect of strategies that are in place to improve the level of service.

Independent Sector Treatment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received on services provided by independent sector treatment centres in the last 12 months.

Ivan Lewis: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Influenza Vaccine

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many production facilities in the UK are capable of producing influenza vaccine; and what their capacity is.

Caroline Flint: Novartis Vaccines is the only commercial manufacturer of flu vaccine in the United Kingdom. Capacity depends on growth of vaccine strain. This information is commercially confidential.

Influenza Vaccine

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of supply of influenza vaccine doses has been secured for the winter of 2006-07; from which manufacturers this supply has been secured; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: General practitioners purchase their own supply of flu vaccine from the supplier of their choice. For 2006-07, the Department has advised manufacturers that total orders of flu vaccine to the United Kingdom are likely to be about 15 million doses. Manufacturers will know after the end of July how much vaccine will be available.

Influenza Vaccine

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to add people with severe mental illness to the list of people automatically offered seasonal influenza vaccines.

Caroline Flint: Vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) flu sub-group reviewed all available evidence on whether patients with schizophrenia and bi-polar affective disorder are at an increased risk from influenza and should be offered vaccination.
	At the last meeting, the sub-group concluded that there is no evidence at present to support a role for influenza vaccination.

Intermediate Care Beds

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intermediate care beds there have been in the NHS in each year since 2000; and what plans she has to monitor the number of intermediate care beds situated in community or cottage hospitals.

Ivan Lewis: Data on the number of intermediate care beds, the number of places in non-residential intermediate care schemes and the number of people using intermediate care are collected and are shown in the table. There are no plans to expand the data collection.
	
		
			   Number of places in non-residential IC schemes  Number of intermediate care beds  Number of people using intermediate care 
			 1999-2000 7,149 4,242 132,447 
			 2000-01 (1) (1) (1) 
			 2001-02 13,878 7,021 246,034 
			 2002-03 19,078 7,493 284,365 
			 2003-04 17,339 8,697 333,821 
			 2004-05 20,558 8,928 362,664 
			 2005-06 20,637 9,007 393,362 
			 (1 )Information not collected   Notes:  LDPR lines 8105, 8157 and 8305.

Independent Sector Treatment Programme

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many procedures each independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) was contracted to provide in wave one of the ISTC programme; and how many procedures were delivered,  (a) broken down by ISTC and  (b) in total.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Wave 1 ISTC schemes 
			  Scheme  Facilities  Total number of procedures( 1)  Total number of diagnostic tests( 1)  Procedures( 2)  to 30 April 2006  Diagnostics to 30 April 2006  Primary care to 30 April 2006 
			 Ophthalmic Chain (OC123) Mobile units 44,737  21,339   
			 East Cornwall Bodmin NHS treatment centre 26,767  746   
			 East Lincolnshire Boston NHS treatment centre 7,263 2,000 1,082   
			 West Lincolnshire Gainsborough NHS treatment centre 6,365  859   
			 North Oxford Horton NHS treatment centre 11,197 
			 NEYNL Clifton Park NHS treatment centre 9,964  611   
			 Southampton Capio New Hall NHS treatment centre 11,468  1,363   
			 Northumberland Cobalt NHS treatment centre 10,080  1,576   
			 TV3500 Blakelands NHS treatment centre 17,417  1,324   
			 Horton NHS treatment centre  
			 Capio Reading NHS treatment centre  
			 Kidderminster Kidderminster NHS treatment centre 9,000  2,047   
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Cheshire and Merseyside NHS treatment centre 24,817 
			 Nottingham Queen's medical centre Nottingham 110,683 
			 Maidstone Surgi Centre Maidstone hospital 55,589 48,993
			 Outer North East London King George hospital 55,615 
			 Brighton Sussex Orthopaedics NHS treatment centre 26,451  1,043   
			 Wycombe Mid and South Buckingham diagnostic centre  74,880  5,811  
			 Medway Will Adams NHS treatment centre 19,770  551   
			 Portsmouth St. Mary's NHS treatment centre 34,155 48,450 602 1,617 11,679 
			 Havant TBC  78,600
			 Bradford Eccleshill NHS treatment centre 27,416 73,750 3,381 17,723  
			 Burton Midlands NHS treatment centre 64,814 
			 Trent and South Yorkshire Barlborough NHS treatment centre 22,000  3,995   
			 Daventry Birkdale clinic 5,155  5,157   
			 Shepton Mallet Shepton Mallet NHS treatment centre 56,242  6,010   
			 Greater Manchester Greater Manchester surgical centre 44,863  5,253   
			 Plymouth Peninsula NHS treatment centre 16,512  3,021   
			 Total  718,340 326,673 59,960 25,151 11,679 
			 (1) Current expected total volume over the contract period. Independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) contracts stipulate the expected casemix and volume of healthcare to be completed during the five year period of the contract. Actual volumes may change depending on the casemixes that are referred. (2) Procedures completed also include procedures carried out at any interim facilities.  Note: Figures are for agreed Wave 1 ISTC contracts and exclude centrally procured contracts such as Gsupp, MRI, CWiCs etc.

Judicial Review

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what occasions an  (a) individual and  (b) organisation has applied for a judicial review of decisions of her Department in each year since 1997; and what the outcome was of each case where proceedings have been completed.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Maternity Provision

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means the implementation by each NHS trust in England of the target that by 2009 all women will have choice over where and how to have their baby will be assessed; and what action will be taken against NHS trusts that fail to meet this target.

Ivan Lewis: The Department is developing a maternity services delivery plan to offer a framework and guidance to support implementation of the Government's maternity commitment.
	It is for local primary care trusts to determine how services are structured and commissioned to meet the needs of the local population. We will be developing tools to support and monitor delivery of the Government commitment.

Maternity Provision

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent risk analysis she has undertaken of maternity episodes that start in an independent midwife-led unit and are then moved to a consultant-led obstetric unit; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the latest National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence report on maternity care, with particular reference to risk levels in independent midwife-led units.

Ivan Lewis: None. It is for local national health service maternity care providers and primary care trusts to ensure that midwife-led care is provided within a framework that enables easy and early transfer of women and babies who unexpectedly require specialist care. As with other options, the outcomes of these types of care should be regularly audited.
	The Department welcomes the publication of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) draft guidelines on intrapartum care. These guidelines are currently subject to consultation and we will comment on them in accordance with the normal protocol. I am confident that NICE will consider all the comments that are made by the Department in response to its consultation.

Medical Staff (Pay Increases)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage pay rise in  (a) cash and  (b) real terms has been awarded to (i) doctors, (ii) dentists and (iii) nurses in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the pay uplifts awarded to nurses and to hospital doctors and dentists in cash and real terms since 1997.
	
		
			   Nurses  Hospital doctors and dentists 
			   Cash terms  (percentage)  Real terms( 1)( ) (percentage)   Cash terms  (percentage)  Real terms( 1)( ) (percentage) 
			 1997-98 3.3 staged(2) 0.3  3.4 staged(3) 0.4 
			   
			 1998-99 3.8 staged(4) 1.2  4.2 plus 0.35 for pensions staged(4) 1.6 
			   
			 1999-2000 4.7 plus uprating of some allowances 2.7  3.5 plus 500 on consultants' scale maximum 1.5 
			   
			 2000-01 3.4 plus uprating of some allowances and changes to grade D incremental scale 2.1  3.3 2.0 
			   
			 2001-02 3.7 plus average 2 for F-I grades by consolidation of discretionary points 1.2  3.9 1.4 
			   
			 2002-03 3.6 plus increase in allowances and changes to some pay scales 0.4  3.6 plus increases in pay scale maxima for senior house officers, staff grades and associate specialists 0.4 
			   
			 2003-04 3.225 0.6  3.225 plus changes to pay scale for staff grades and associate specialists 0.6 
			   
			 2004-05 3.225 1.0 Consultants on 2003 contract 3.225 1.0 
			Consultants on pre-2003 contract 2.5 0.3 
			Doctors in training 2.7 0.5 
			Staff grades and associate specialists 2.7 plus changes to incremental and discretionary scales 0.5 
			   
			 2005-06 3.225 1.1 Consultants on 2003 contract 3.225 1.1 
			Consultants on pre-2003 contract 3.0 0.9 
			Doctors in training 3.0 0.9 
			Staff grades and associate specialists 3.225 1.1 
			 2006-07 2.5 0.1 Consultants on 2003 contract 2.2 staged(5) -0.2 
			Consultants on pre-2003 contract 2.2 staged(5) -0.2 
			Doctors in training 2.2 -0.2 
			Staff grades and associate specialists 2.4 0.0 
			 (1) Using gross domestic product deflator as at 29 March 2006 (2) Staged: 2.8 per cent. from 1 April 1997 balance from 1 December 1997 (3) Staged: 2 per cent. from 1 April 1997 balance from 1 December 1997 (4) Staged: 2 per cent. from 1 April 1998 balance from 1 December 1998 (5) Staged: 1 per cent. from 1 April 2006 balance from 1 November 2006

Mental Health Staff

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) professional and  (b) non-professional child and adolescent mental health staff are in post in each primary care trust area; and how many were in post in each relevant health area per 100,000 population in each of the previous 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held at primary care trust level and it is not possible to separate all of the information requested because of the way the non-medical work force census is collected.
	However, the following data have been placed in the Library:
	National health service hospital and community health services: non-medical staff in England by each specified area of work by strategic health authority (SHA) area as at 30 September each specified year;
	Hospital and community health services: medical staff working within the child and adolescent psychiatry specialty by SHA; and
	NHS staff in England by each specified mental health staff group per 100,000 population as at 30 September each specified year.

Multiple Sclerosis (Yeovil)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in Yeovil constituency in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not available.

National Insurance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been to the NHS of the annual one per cent. increase in national insurance contributions in each relevant year.

Rosie Winterton: Employer's national insurance increased by one per cent, in 2003-04. This has cost the national health service an estimated 190 million in 2003-04 and 210 million in 2004-05.
	The NHS has benefited from the one per cent., increase in terms of available resources many times over compared to these costs. Allocations to health authorities in 2002-03 were 41.5 billion in 2004-05. Allocations to primary care trusts had increased to 49.3 billion.

NHS Contracts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of the new NHS contracts and pay deals on  (a) encouraging qualified doctors and nurses (i) to stay in and (ii) to return to the NHS and  (b) attempts to create a more flexible workforce with greater scope for team working and fewer barriers between different staff groups.

Rosie Winterton: For qualified doctors, there has been a fall in the three-month vacancy rate for medical and dental consultants: from 4.7 per cent. in 2003 compared to 4.4 per cent. in 2004 and 3.3 per cent. in 2005. For nurses, there has been a fall in the vacancy rate from 2.9 per cent. in 2003 compared to 2.6 per cent. in 2004 and 1.9 per cent. in 2005.
	NHS employers are gathering a variety of evidence that demonstrates how national health service organisations are using the new pay systems to deliver a more flexible workforce. Some of this is already accessible on the NHS employers website. This will also feed into the integrated service improvement programme, led by strategic health authorities.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of their budgets each  (a) NHS trust,  (b) health authority,  (c) primary care trust and  (d) strategic health authority spent on administration in each year since 1997-98.

Andy Burnham: Administration expenditure may vary considerably between organisations owing to the variability of the individual items which are included. In particular, health authorities included adjustments to their capital charges, which may produce negative expenditure in some cases. Administration expenditure is not therefore comparable directly between years and between organisations. However the available information has been placed in the Library.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the aggregate year end financial position of  (a) all primary care trusts and  (b) all NHS trusts has been in each year since 2002.

Andy Burnham: The following table shows the net year end financial position by primary care trusts (PCTs), national health service trusts and strategic health authorities (SHAs) for years 2002-03 to 2004-05, and the provisional outturn for 2005-06.
	
		
			  000 
			   Final outturn 2002-03  Final outturn 2003-04  Final outturn 2004-05  Provisional outturn 2005-06 
			 PCTs 92,784 3,869 -272,392 -475,650 
			 NHS trusts(1) -93,529 -137,607 -321,702 -560,484 
			 SHA 96,392 206,270 372,736 524,044 
			 Total 95,647 72,532 -221,358 -512,090 
			 (1) Excludes foundation trusts

NHS Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the Government have made of the effect of NHS deficits on joint working with local authorities.

Andy Burnham: The Department allocates funding to local authorities for adult social care without reference to the financial position of the national health service.
	NHS and local authority social services have a duty to work in partnership to provide services which meet the health and social care needs of their local population. The NHS has a legal responsibility to provide healthcare and nursing care which social services cannot provide.
	It is essential that the NHS and social services work together locally, in collaboration with other partners, and with individuals and their representatives, to deliver services in a joined-up way, tailored (wherever possible) to the needs of the individual. For example, local area agreements have proved valuable in improving the efficiency and targeting of resources, developing new ways of working and agreeing a joint approach with a range of local partners to address local issues.

NHS Finance

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will assess the financial effects on primary care trusts of the obligation to contribute portions of their budget for 2006-07 to a risk pool.

Andy Burnham: The new strategic health authorities (SHAs) will take the lead locally in developing and implementing a service and financial strategy for managing the financial position within their locality. This will include creating local reserves to deal with local problems.
	It is for SHAs locally to determine the level of contribution to reserves and the application of those reserves. The level determined will reflect local financial circumstances, but the underlying principle will be fairness. Money will not be lost to those communities, because funding will be returned to primary care trusts normally over the allocations cycle.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2006,  Official Report, column 273W, on NHS finance, 
	(1)  what the 2005-06 month 12 forecast year-end financial position was for each of the 28 previous strategic health authority (SHA) areas in total, inclusive of all constituent trusts; and what percentage of the cumulative turnover in the SHA area this represents in each case;
	(2)  what the 2004-05 audited year-end financial position was of each of the previous 28 strategic health authority (SHA) areas in total, inclusive of all constituent trusts; and what percentage of the cumulative SHA-area turnover this represents in each case.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is provided in the tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: 2004-05 audited year-end financial position for the 28 strategic health authorities (SHAs) and the surplus/deficit as a percentage of the cumulative SHA turnover 
			  Name  Final turnover (000)  Final surplus/(deficits) (000)  Surplus/deficits as a percentage of turnover 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 2,510,547 (7,865) (0.3) 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 1,747,876 (61,020) (3.5) 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country SHA 2,958,369 13,974 0.5 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 3,189,327 6,058 0.2 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 1,532,417 559 0.0 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 2,412,040 10,701 0.4 
			 Dorset and Somerset SHA 1,380,346 6,370 0.5 
			 Essex SHA 1,775,515 (13,982) (0.8) 
			 Greater Manchester SHA 3,435,822 30,035 0.9 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 2,029,024 (39,539) (1.9) 
			 Kent and Medway SHA 1,797,559 (2,220) (0.1) 
			 Leicestershire, Northants and Rutland SHA 1,643,459 (1,562) (0.1) 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 2,484,186 (69,467) (2.8) 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire SHA 1,849,196 (8,439) (0.5) 
			 North Central London SHA 1,919,261 3,065 0.2 
			 North East London SHA 2,203,934 7,457 0.3 
			 North West London SHA 2,612,531 (72,112) (2.8) 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 1,882,044 21,015 1.1 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 1,651,090 (22,724) (1.4) 
			 South East London SHA 2,270,265 (510) (0.0) 
			 South West London SHA 1,677,911 (20,085) (1.2) 
			 South West Peninsula SHA 1,906,104 (11,474) (0.6) 
			 South Yorkshire SHA 1,813,618 16,133 0.9 
			 Surrey and Sussex SHA 3,027,235 (33,177) (1.1) 
			 Thames Valley SHA 2,291,031 (5,936) (0.3) 
			 Trent SHA 3,077,009 16,350 0.5 
			 West Midlands South SHA 1,709,401 (9,836) (0.6) 
			 West Yorkshire SHA 2,714,636 26,873 1.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: 2005-06 provisional outturn position for the 28 SHAs and the surplus/deficit position as a percentage of the cumulative SHA turnover 
			  Name  Final turnover (000)  Final surplus/(deficits) (000)  Surplus/deficits as a percentage of turnover 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 2,727,990 (41,514) (1.5) 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA 1,830,995 (107,873) (5.9) 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country SHA 3,274,274 19,056 0.6 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside SHA 3,482,704 (16,582) (0.5) 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley SHA 1,681,017 8 0.0 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 2,583,471 34,100 1.3 
			 Dorset and Somerset SHA 1,506,773 10,953 0.7 
			 Essex SHA 1,934,727 (6,024) (0.3) 
			 Greater Manchester SHA 3,760,596 40,136 1.1 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA 2,194,508 (24,970) (1.1) 
			 Kent and Medway SHA 1,946,904 (4,195) (0.2) 
			 Leicestershire, Northants and Rutland SHA 1,799,477 (27,892) (1.6) 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA 2,669,045 (100,405) (3.8) 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire SHA 2,021,208 (39,650) (2.0) 
			 North Central London SHA 2,050,552 6,863 0.3 
			 North East London SHA 2,427,316 1,444 0.1 
			 North West London SHA 2,728,757 (83,826) (3.1) 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA 2,055,500 19,695 1.0 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA 1,789,877 (36,481) (2.0) 
			 South East London SHA 2,435,308 (48,376) (2.0) 
			 South West London SHA 1,772,740 (44,499) (2.5) 
			 South West Peninsula SHA 2,118,810 (18,303) (0.9) 
			 South Yorkshire SHA 1,980,107 36,664 1.9 
			 Surrey and Sussex SHA 3,213,556 (85,007) (2.6) 
			 Thames Valley SHA 2,411,780 (32,834) (1.4) 
			 Trent SHA 3,372,327 16,665 0.5 
			 West Midlands South SHA 1,893,734 (18,620) (1.0) 
			 West Yorkshire SHA 2,976,363 39,378 1.3

NHS Finance

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the impact of NHS trust deficits on  (a) rural and  (b) non-rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Our analysis of the 2005-06 financial positions of national health service organisations has shown that there is no strong relationship between financial performance and any single factor, including the extent to which areas are urban or rural.
	A full report on 2005-06 NHS financial performance is available in the Library.

NHS Finance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has made an assessment of the differences in NHS trust deficits between English and Welsh local health boards.

Andy Burnham: We have analysed the financial position of the national health service in England, and the results of that analysis is available in both Library and on the Department's website. NHS deficits in Welsh trusts are a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

NHS Finance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision she makes for the rurality of NHS trusts when allocating funding.

Andy Burnham: Funding is allocated to primary care trusts on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each primary care trusts target share of available resources. The weighted capitation formula is continuously overseen by the advisory committee on resource allocation (ACRA). This is an independent body, which has national health service management, general practitioner and academic members.
	The formula that informed allocations up to 2007-08 takes account of access to services in rural areas, and the cost of providing emergency ambulance services. The ACRA work programme for the allocations for 2008-09 and beyond includes further consideration of rurality issues.

NHS Pension Scheme Penserver Development

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the timetable was for the NHS Pension Scheme Penserver development prior to July 2005;
	(2)  how the requirements of the NHS pension scheme changed during the roll-out of the Penserver development; and if she will make a statement;

Rosie Winterton: During the Penserver development programme the NHS Employers Organisation entered into consultation with national health service trade unions over the modernisation of the NHS Pension Scheme. The managers of the NHS Pension Scheme administration identified this as a significant change programme and commissioned a technical solutions health check. The main recommendation from this review was that further phases of Penserver development should be combined with the overall change programme for pension scheme modernisation.
	Penserver phase one was introduced in July 2003 and Penserver phase two in October 2005, as a result.

NHS Performance

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her oral statement of 7 June 2006,  Official Report, column 264, on NHS performance, what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which the budget available to the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust reflects the health needs of the local population; what assessment she has made of the reasons for its deficit; and who is responsible for tackling the deficit.

Ivan Lewis: The Department makes revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) but not to national health service trusts. PCTs commission services from trusts, which are the providers.
	In the past, a provider's income was determined by historical cost and the negotiating ability of local managers. Payment by results is a fairer and more transparent method of rewarding providers.
	Under payment by results, the income of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is determined by the amount of activity which takes place, paid for at the rates specified in the national tariff, and adjusted by the market forces factor. For activity which is outside the scope of the national tariff, prices are agreed locally.
	It is for the NHS South West to make any such assessment, and take the necessary action in co-operation with the local NHS. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health was advised by KPMG as part of the initial assessment for turnaround in February 2006 that Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust was a category one organisation, and would thus require immediate support to deliver a turnaround.

NHS Performance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1948W, on NHS performance, what adjustments she has made to the resource limits of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities under section 97 of the National Health Service Act 1977, as amended, broken down by NHS organisation.

Andy Burnham: To date there have been no adjustments made in the 2006-07 financial year relating to the transfer of surpluses between primary care trusts and strategic health authority (SHA) reserves. The total planned transfers from primary care trusts to SHA reserves for 2006-07 have yet to be finalised.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS Professionals is registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 July 2006
	NHS Professionals is not required to register with the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the market share of NHS Professionals.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 July 2006
	The National Audit Office estimates that NHS Professionals' penetration of the acute trust nursing market was 27 per cent., in May 2006.

NHS Repairs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set a target to eliminate the NHS estate repair backlog by April 2011.

Andy Burnham: There are no plans to set a target to eliminate the national health service estate repair backlog as this work is the responsibility of each NHS body who make decisions locally based on their estate investment planning programme.

Non-medical Workforce Census

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which types of staff work in the community services subgroup of the NHS non-medical workforce census, published on 24 April 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested concerns community matron, district nurses, health visitors, school nursing service nurses and other qualified community service nurses. In addition there are other nurses working in the community: practice nurses, community psychiatric nurses and community learning disability nurses. The total of these community nurses in September 2005 was 105,753 compared with 77,249 in 1997.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in England the community services and school nursing areas of work by level as at 30 September 2005 
			  Headcount 
			   Total community services  Community services  School nursing 
			 Total qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 63,257 60,370 2,887 
			 Nurse consultant 127 127 0 
			 Modern matron 271 267 4 
			 Manager 1,392 1,369 23 
			 Registered nursechildren. 333 333 0 
			 Health visitor 12,818 12,818 0 
			 District nurses 12,067 12,067 0 
			 School nurses who hold a post registration school nursing qualification 943 0 943 
			 Other first level 33,159 31,385 1,774 
			 Other second level 2,147 2,004 143 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census 2005

Nut Allergies

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken to tackle the causes of  (a) nut allergy and  (b) other allergies.

Ivan Lewis: The underlying causes responsible for people being allergic to various substances are unknown, although it is thought genetics and environmental factors may play a part.
	On 12 May 2006, the Medical Research Council (MRC) announced 2.3 million funding over three years to the MRC asthma United Kingdom centre in allergic mechanisms of asthma. The main aim of this research is to advance the understanding of allergic mechanisms in order to inform the development of new treatments.

Nutrient Profiling Model

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has accepted the Food Standards Agency's recommendation that its nutrient profiling model should be the basis of any further regulation of television advertising to children for health purposes.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 22 June 2006,  Official Report, column 2104W.

Obesity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of  (a) children and  (b) adults in (i) Yeovil constituency, (ii) Somerset and (iii) the South West are (A) obese and (B) overweight when measured by body mass index according to the Government's most recent health survey figures.

Ivan Lewis: The main source of data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and adults is the Health Survey for England (HSE). Data are not available in the format requested. Tables 1 to 4 set out the most recent data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adults.
	Table 1 presents the data on overweight and obesity among adults in Somerset and Dorset (the strategic health authority (SHA) which contains Yeovil). The sample size of the HSE does not allow figures to be produced below SHA level, nor does it allow an SHA breakdown for children. Body mass index (BMI) is a common method of evaluating individual people to see if they are overweight or obese. A BMI between 25 to 30 is overweight and over 30 is referred to as obese.
	
		
			  Table 1: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults aged 16 and over in Somerset and Dorset SNA (three-year average), 2000-02 
			   Percentage 
			  Men  
			 Overweight 47.1 
			 Obese 19.7 
			   
			  Women  
			 Overweight 35.4 
			 Obese 21.3 
			   
			  All adults  
			 Overweight 40.8 
			 Obese 20.5 
			   
			  Base (unweighted)  
			 Men 313 
			 Women 365 
			 All adults 678 
			  Source:  Health Survey for England: Health and Lifestyle indicators for SHAs 1994 to 2002, Department of Health. 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the proportion of adults who were overweight and obese in South West Government office region (GOR) in 2003.
	
		
			  Table 2: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults aged 16 and over in South West GOR by gender, 2003 
			   Percentage 
			  Men  
			 Overweight 68.4 
			 Obese 22.8 
			   
			  Women  
			 Overweight 55.8 
			 Obese 21.1 
			   
			  All adults  
			 Overweight 62.0 
			 Obese 21.9 
			   
			  Bases (unweighted)  
			 Men 601 
			 Women 712 
			   
			  Bases (weighted)  
			 Men 663 
			 Women 683 
			  Source:  Health Survey for England 2003. Department of Health. 
		
	
	Tables 3 and 4 show the most recent available data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and children in England in 2004.
	
		
			  Table 3: Prevalence of obesity and overweight among adults aged 16 and over by gender, England 2004 
			   Percentage 
			  Men  
			 Overweight 43.9 
			 Obese 22.7 
			   
			  Women  
			 Overweight 33.9 
			 Obese 23.2 
			   
			  Bases (weighted)  
			 Men 39,244 
			 Women 39,803 
			  Note:  Figures for all adults are not provided as dataset is not available to do the statistical analysis.  Source:  Health Survey for England 2004. The Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Prevalence of obesity and overweight among children aged two to 15 by gender, England 2004 
			   Percentage 
			  Boys  
			 Overweight 13.9 
			 Obese 19.2 
			   
			  Girls  
			 Overweight 16.6 
			 Obese 18.5 
			   
			  Bases (weighted)  
			 Boys 8,833 
			 Girls 8,228 
			  Note:  Figures for all adults are not provided as dataset is not available to do the statistical analysis.  Source:  Health Survey for England 2004updating of trend tables to include 2004 data. The Information Centre for health and social care.

Osteoporosis

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new DXA bone density scanners were purchased by strategic health authorities in financial year 2005-06; how many patients were referred to the private sector for bone density scans in that year; what steps have been taken to ensure recurrent funding for running costs for DXA scanners; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The data requested in relation to the number of new dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone density scanner purchased by strategic health authorities and the number of patients referred to the private sector for bone density scans, are not collected by the Department.
	By December 2008, the patient pathway should be 18 weeks inclusive of out-patients, diagnostics, and in-patients waits. National health service organisations are developing local plans to achieve this pathway within the funding allocated to them. Primary care trusts (PCTs) were informed of their revenue allocations up to 2007-08 on 9 February 2005. The 2006-07 and 2007-08 revenue allocations represent 135 billion investment in the NHS, 64 billion to PCTs in 2006-07 and 70 billion in 2007-08. The Department has no plans to make additional recurrent funding available to PCTs to cover the running costs of DXA scanners.

Overseas Patients

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overseas patients were treated in East Lancashire hospitals in each year since 2000; what the total cost of treatment given was; and how much  (a) has been written off and  (b) remains unpaid.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of overseas patients treated, the total cost of treatment and how much remains underpaid is not held centrally.
	The table shows income from overseas patients and bad debts and claims for overseas visitors which has been abandoned. Figures relate to the East Lancashire Hospitals National Health Service Trust and its predecessor organisations.
	
		
			   
			  NHS Trust  Income from overseas patientsnon reciprocal  Bad debts and claims abandonedoverseas visitors 
			  2000-01   
			 Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley n/a 1,000 
			 Burnley Health Care n/a 2,000 
			
			  2001-02   
			 Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley n/a 3,000 
			 Burnley Health Care n/a 0 
			
			  2002-03   
			 Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley n/a 0 
			 Burnley Health Care n/a 8,000 
			
			  2003-04   
			 East Lancashire Hospitals 20,000 10,000 
			
			  2004-05   
			 East Lancashire Hospitals 35,000 3,000 
			  Source: Audited summarisation schedules of the named NHS trusts

Papilloma Virus Vaccine

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her letter to the director of Jo's Trust on 1 June 2006, what the evidential basis was for her statement that the two vaccines for human papilloma virus were not expected to be licensed until at least 2007.

Caroline Flint: Research has suggested that human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines may provide real benefit. The Department is currently seeking expert advice on the efficiency, safety and benefits that these new vaccines may offer.
	Officials have met with manufacturers of the HPV vaccines to discuss research results and time scales for the development and likely licensure of the vaccines. A joint committee on vaccination and immunisation subgroup met in May 2006 to review all the available information on HPV vaccines and will hold further meetings during 2006.

Patient Transport

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which  (a) notices about the hospital travel costs scheme are displayed in all patient areas and  (b) information about the scheme is included in all appointment or admission letters, in accordance with departmental guidance.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not made an assessment of the extent to which notices about the hospital travel costs scheme (HTCS) are displayed in all patient areas and information about the scheme is included in all appointment or admission letters, in accordance with departmental guidance. It is for individual trusts to decide how best practice guidance is implemented locally.
	As part of the Our health, our care, our say White Paper commitment to expand the HTCS to include referrals by health care professionals, we will be consulting on other issues such as alternative ways to raise awareness of the HTCS.

Primary Care Trust Referrals

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has issued to primary care trusts on their use of Referral Management Systems and Tier 2 Clinical Assessment and Treatment Systems; and what effect this has had on the number of referrals into secondary care, with particular reference to skin problems.

Ivan Lewis: Current advice is contained in a letter to primary care trust chief executives in July 2005. Referrals to community-based clinical assessment services, and other such centres, should happen only where it adds genuine clinical value for patients. A copy of the letter is available in the Library.
	Information about the effects of the use of such services on referrals to secondary care is not held centrally.

Pensions (NHS Personnel)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Department has put in place to assist pension transferability of public pensions for NHS personnel.

Rosie Winterton: All public service schemes pay cash equivalent transfer values to other pension schemes in respect of accrued rights in compliance with pensions law. Under the 'Fair Deal for Staff Pensions: Procurement of Bulk Transfer Arrangements and Related Issues' guidance published by HM Treasury in June 2004, there is a requirement to transfer pension rights when employments are transferred to the private sector under public private partnerships/public finance initiatives and subsequent transfers for former public servants. Under arrangements agreed between a number of mainly public sector pension schemes to facilitate transfers, known as the public sector transfer club and administered by the civil service pensions division of the Cabinet Office, public service scheme members can also transfer accrued pension rights by way of the public sector transfer club.

Pharmacy Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that pharmacists are consulted by local NHS organisations on proposed service redesigns.

Andy Burnham: It is for local organisations to decide who the appropriate people are to consult with on service redesign. All parties with an interest should be given a proper opportunity to make their views known.

Pharmacy Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from interested parties on failure of primary care trusts to commission additional and enhanced services from pharmacies under the community pharmacy contract.

Andy Burnham: We receive regular inquiries from patients, business and others interested in the provision of pharmaceutical services under the new contractual framework. It is for primary care trusts to determine, according to local needs and available funds, whether or not they commission enhanced services from community pharmacies. The next statistical bulletin for 2005-06 on general pharmaceutical services in England and Wales will contain information on the extent to which primary care trusts have commissioned these services. It is due to be published later this year.

Ports

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the provision for port health is at each of the major UK ports; why funding for port health is not ring-fenced; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The main statutory responsibility for implementing the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations 1979, the Public Health (Ships) Regulations 1979, and the Public Health (International Trains) Regulations 1994, often referred to as the port health regulations, rests with local authorities, including some that are specifically constituted as port health authorities.
	Funding for port health is included in revenue support grant (RSG). The RSG is an unhypothecated block grant and as such local authorities can use it for any purpose. The amount provided for a particular service is not separately identifiable. This is consistent with the Government's view that local authorities are best placed to take account of local circumstances in setting their priorities for spending. The Department does not collect information on the arrangements made by each local authority with port health responsibilities, consistent with its policy of minimising burdens on local authorities.
	The medical staff needed to implement the regulations are provided or commissioned for local authorities by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) or in some cases the local primary care trust. Following a review of arrangements at ports, airports and international train stations completed in March 2006, the HPA has agreed to take the overall operational lead in ensuring that there is appropriate (human) health input into arrangements for port health.
	The paragraphs above cover the position in England. Responsibility for port health in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland rests with the National Assembly for Wales, Scottish Ministers, and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland respectively.
	The existing port health regulations reflect the requirements of the International Health Regulations 1969. New International Health Regulations were adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2005 and are due to come into force generally in June 2007. They are the means by which the World Health Organization aims to prevent and control the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with the public health risks and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade. The Government is working closely with the Association of Port Health Authorities, the HPA, the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Executive, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland and other interested parties to consider how the International Health Regulations 2007 should be implemented in the United Kingdom.

Post Office Contracts

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which services  (a) her Department and  (b) its associated public bodies hold contracts with the Post Office; and what the (i) start and (ii) termination date is of each contract.

Rosie Winterton: The Department contracts with the Post Office for the distribution of the European Health Insurance Card application packs. This contract started on 1 September 2005 and runs to 31 March 2007.

Post Office Network Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what services  (a) her Department and  (b) its associated public bodies (i) make available and (ii) have made available in the last five years through the Post Office network; through how many outlets the service is or was made available; and how many relevant transactions were undertaken in each case in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Services which have been provided by the Post Office on the Department's behalf in the past five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  Service  Number of outlets  Number of outlets  Number of outlets  Numbers issued  Number of outlets  Numbers issued  Number of outlets 
			 Issue of E111s All All All 7.3 million All 8.9 million service ceased on 1 September 2005 All 
			 Distribution of European health insurance card application packs n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 6 million application packs service started on  1 September 2006 All 
			 Prescription pre-payment certificate application forms All All ceased October2002 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Prescription charge refunds All All All 140,706 All Ceased 31 March 2005 n/a 
			 Display help with health costs publicity material 400 main post offices and some sub post offices 400 main post offices and some sub post offices 400 main post offices and some sub post offices n/a 400 main post offices and some sub post offices Ceased 31 March 2005 n/a 
			 Welfare food scheme milk tokens All All All 750,000 people in receipt of tokens ceased 30 September2004 All n/a n/a

Premature Deaths

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the National Patient Safety Agency in carrying out a national confidential inquiry into premature deaths among people with learning disabilities; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The National Patient Safety Agency has now completed their scoping study and we are working with them to look at the business case for a full confidential inquiry. The Department will consider the final business case in due course.

Public Health Screening

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 333W, on public health screening programmes, which of the programmes listed are both fully operational and cover the whole of England.

Caroline Flint: Screening programmes for the following conditions are both fully operational and cover the whole of England: congenital hypothyroidism, cervical cancer, breast cancer and newborn hearing. The remaining programmes on the list are being developed to ensure a high quality screening service is available across England when fully implemented.

Residential and Nursing Homes

Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what fees, including nursing care allowances and fees paid on a graduated basis, were paid to all providers of care in  (a) nursing,  (b) nursing elderly mentally infirm (EMI),  (c) residential and  (d) residential EMI homes in the metropolitan boroughs of (i) Liverpool, (ii) Sefton, (iii) St. Helens and (iv) Wirral in 2005-06;
	(2)  how many places were provided for  (a) nursing,  (b) nursing elderly mentally infirm (EMI),  (c) residential and  (d) residential EMI care by the metropolitan boroughs of (i) Liverpool, (ii) Sefton, (iii) St. Helens and (iv) Wirral in 2005-06;
	(3)  how many people over 65 years waited for  (a) a place in (i) nursing, (ii) nursing elderly mentally infirm (EMI), (iii) residential, (iv) residential EMI care and  (b) domiciliary care services in the borough of (i) Liverpool, (ii) Sefton, (iii) St. Helens and (iv) Wirral in 2005-06.

Rosie Winterton: I understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the information on places in nursing and care homes is not available in the precise form requested. CSCI collects statistics in respect of places for people who are elderly mentally infirm (EMI) under the two registration categories of older people with dementia (DE) and older people with mental disorder (MD).
	As such, CSCI's statistics for these client groups for the metropolitan boroughs of Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral for the year 2005-06 are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Total registered places  Total registered EMI places in DE and MD categories 
			  Liverpool   
			 Care homes with nursing 2,242 819 
			 Residential care homes 1,237 224 
			
			  Sefton   
			 Care homes with nursing 1,708 293 
			 Residential care homes 2,012 234 
			
			  St. Helens   
			 Care homes with nursing 548 216 
			 Residential care homes 664 243 
			
			  Wirral   
			 Care homes with nursing 1,918 563 
			 Residential care homes 1,898 276 
		
	
	Information on the number of people awaiting delivery of a care package for which eligibility is established or the numbers of people currently having their needs and eligibility assessed is not available.
	Information on the level of fees negotiated locally between councils and other purchasers of care services is not available centrally.

Section 64 Grants

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the value of section 64 grants was in each year since 2004-05; and how much each  (a) organisation and  (b) project received in each year.

Ivan Lewis: The amounts available for the section 64 general scheme of grants in the three years from 2004-05 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Year of award  Value of award ( million) 
			 2004-05 17.80 
			 2005-06 17.90 
			 2006-07 17.20 
		
	
	Information on amounts awarded to organisations for the three years commencing 2004-05 is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/section64

Speech and Language Therapy

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to improve the delivery of speech and language therapy for young people.

Ivan Lewis: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities, local authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of speech and language therapy.
	We have increased the number of speech and language therapists employed in the national health service by 34.6 per cent., since 1997, and the numbers of people in training for this profession by 62 per cent., since 1999 to 2000.

Tattoos

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost to NHS trusts of removing tattoos in 2005-06; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: This information is not collected centrally.

Thrombosis

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Healthcare Commission on including thrombosis as a measurable indicator in annual hospital checks; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The Government response to the House of Commons Health Committee Report on the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalised patients was presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health in July 2005. The response included a commitment to set up an independent expert working group which would make its recommendations by summer 2006, and that once the expert group had assessed the current guidance on VTE, the Department would ask that the Healthcare Commission look to seek conformity with this good practice.
	The Department expects the report of the independent expert working group to be presented to the Chief Medical Officer shortly.

Top-slicing System

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health trusts have received  (a) a reduction and  (b) an increase in funding under the top slicing system in 2006-07.

Andy Burnham: To date there have been no reductions or increases in funding relating to the transfer of surpluses between primary care trusts and strategic health authority (SHA) reserves in the 2006-07 financial year. The total planned transfers from primary care trusts to SHA reserves for 2006-07 have yet to be finalised.

Top-slicing System

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the sum taken from North East Lincolnshire primary care trust under the top slicing system will be reimbursed.

Ivan Lewis: Planned transfers from primary care trusts to strategic health authority reserves for 2006-07 have yet to be finalised.

Treatment Centres

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many untoward incidents there have been at independent sector treatment centres in the last five years, broken down by  (a) specialty and  (b) strategic health authority region.

Ivan Lewis: As of 28 June 2006, 144 incidents had been reported to the Department by wave one independent sector treatment centre providers. Incidents are not collected centrally either by specialty or by strategic health authority. In addition to reporting incidents to the Department, providers are also required to report events to the Healthcare Commission under section 28 of the national minimum standards regulations.

Tuberculosis Inoculation (Schools)

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts provide tuberculosis inoculation in schools within their area.

Caroline Flint: This information is not held centrally by the Department.

Waiting Times/Lists

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a)(i) mean waiting time and (ii) median waiting time as provided by data drawn from the hospital episode statistics and  (b)(i) commissioner-based mean waiting time and (ii) commissioner-based median waiting time as provided by NHS organisations' monthly returns to her Department were in each year since 1988.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Inpatient mean and medians in weeks from 1988 
			   Korner aggregate returns (stock)  Hospital episode statistics (flow) 
			   Median  Mean  Median  Mean 
			  Year ending March each year  Provider  Commissioner  Provider  Commissioner  Provider  Provider 
			 1988 21.7  28.9  n/a n/a 
			 1989 22.2  29.2  n/a n/a 
			 1990 20.5  27.7  5.0 12.9 
			 1991 19.2  25.8  5.1 13.7 
			 1992 13.9  20.4  5.6 14.5 
			 1993 13.8  19.6  5.6 12.8 
			 1994  14.4  20.2 5.9 13.0 
			 1995  12.5  17.8 6.1 12.9 
			 1996  11.8  15.9 6.0 12.6 
			 1997  13.2  18.1 5.7 11.8 
			 1998  14.9  20.0 5.9 12.8 
			 1999  12.9  18.6 6.4 14.1 
			 2000  12.9  18.7 6.1 12.9 
			 2001  12.6  18.1 6.3 13.3 
			 2002  12.7  17.4 6.7 13.7 
			 2003  11.9  15.6 7.0 14.1 
			 2004  10.2  12.4 7.1 13.6 
			 2005  8.5  10.6 7.4 12.0 
			 2006  7.3  8.7 n/a n/a 
			  Notes:  Provider based data only available prior to 1994 from Korner returns. HES figures relate to patients admitted during financial year ending March. First collected in 1989-90 Korner figures relate to numbers waiting as at 31 March.   Source:  KH07/QF01 returns, HES

Waiting Times/Lists

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) mean and  (b) median waiting time was for an (i) in-patient and (ii) out-patient appointment in each year since 1990, broken down by region.

Andy Burnham: Data on the median and mean waiting time, broken down by strategic health authority have been placed in the Library.
	The Department does not hold information on median and mean waits on an equivalent commissioner basis prior to 1995 for inpatients and 1997 for outpatients.

Waiting Times/Lists

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time to be seen by a consultant was for people in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset,  (c) the South West and  (d) England in 2005-06, broken down by clinical conditions.

Andy Burnham: Median waiting times as at 31 March 2006 by consultant specialty have been placed in the Library. Data are provided for South Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT) (which includes Yeovil), PCTs in Somerset, and strategic health authorities in the South West.

Waiting Times/Lists

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on waiting lists for  (a) heart,  (b) lung,  (c) liver and  (d) kidney operations in Yeovil constituency NHS hospitals.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not available in the format requested. However, as waiting times information is collected by speciality, the number of people waiting for cardiothoracic surgery and urology in the South Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT) area is shown in the following table. Figures are for March 2006.
	
		
			  South Somerset PCT 
			   Number 
			 Cardiothoracic surgery 27 
			 Urology 112 
			 All specialities 1,752

Wasp/Bee Stings

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people  (a) received hospital treatment for and  (b) died as a result of wasp and bee stings in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the following tables. It is not possible directly to compare the two sets of data as one relates to calendar years while the other relates to financial years.
	
		
			  Number of finished consultant episodes and estimated numbers of hospital patients admitted due to contact with hornets, wasps or bees in England 
			  Financial year  Total episodes  Total patients 
			 2000-01 597 546 
			 2001-02 373 340 
			 2002-03 484 443 
			 2003-04 458 369 
			 2004-05 949 843 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care, using hospital episode statistics data, ICD-10 cause code X23. 
		
	
	
		
			  Deaths from accidental contact with hornets, wasps or bees in England 
			  Calendar year  Number 
			 2000 2 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 3 
			 2004 8 
			  Source: Office for National Statistics, using ICD-9 cause code E905.3 for the year 2000 and ICD-10 cause code X23 from 2001 onwards.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Parliamentary Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department were awaiting a reply on 10 July 2006; which of those had been waiting longer than  (a) two and  (b) three weeks for a reply; and what the reason for the delay was in each case.

Peter Hain: From the beginning of the current parliamentary Session to 10 July 2006, 6,874 parliamentary questions have been tabled to my Department. On that date 174 of these were awaiting reply; 30 are unanswered between two and three weeks of tabling and 80 unanswered in over three weeks.
	Of those over three weeks old on 10 July, most were tabled in June and many will now have been answered.
	Delays in answering parliamentary questions can occur for a variety of reasons, from complications arising from the need to request information from external agencies and organisations to pressures on staff when dealing with such a large volume.
	The Northern Ireland Office aims to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day and to endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but my Department makes every effort to achieve these time scales.

Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors underlay the decision to withdraw funding from the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre in Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Government are committed to funding quality services which provide the best possible support for victims of rape and sexual violence in Northern Ireland. The latest financial verification report on the Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre (NI) Ltd. indicates that the organisation is still failing to comply with the terms and conditions to which its funding is subject. This funding will be directed into quality services for victims of rape and sexual violence.